Worcester Artist to Display Floating Sculpture in Atlanta

Monday, August 20, 2012

Joe Parello, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Artist Susan Champeny is well known in the Worcester art community, but will soon bring her latest piece to one of the south's largest art exhibitions.

ReinCarnation, a floating sculpture made of hubcaps, is set for showing at the Atlanta Beltline art exhibition, an outdoor exhibition that showcases the work of hundreds of America's best artists along hiking trails.

"I have always wanted to work with the people at the Beltline, because it's such a respected exhibition," Champeny said. "I started this project for Art in the Park, but since it didn't happen, taking it to Atlanta is a pretty cool opportunity."

Champeny's sculpture, which is designed to resemble lily pads, was tested earlier this month for two weeks in the Cold River of the New Hampshire White Mountains to ensure it could handle the fluctuating water conditions it would face in Atlanta.

"We had to make sure it could be sustained in a river with rising and falling river heights," Champeny said. "It passed with flying colors, so we're confident it will work well. It is going to be displayed in the water below a railroad crossing, and anyone on the train will have a great view of the entire piece."

Champeny is excited about debuting her piece in Atlanta, but her work is far from over. The talented artist will now face the challenge of driving her sculpture down to Atlanta in her car and assembling it herself in the river.

"I'm driving down with the hubcaps and a canoe on top of my car," Champeny said with a laugh. "I'm going to paddle out there and put it together. It should be fun."

The sculpture is set to be on display in the Atlanta river until mid-November. As for her work in Worcester, Champeny says she has a piece prepared for stART on the Street that will turn some heads. Though she would not give away many details, Champeny says it is a color changing tower.

"It's going to be pretty interesting, and people at the exhibit will be able to change the tower's color themselves," Champeny said. "They'll be able to do it with cups, of all things."

The Atlanta Beltline exhibition will be on display throughout the fall. To check out Champeny's piece at stART on the Street here in Worcester, head to the exhibition on Park Avenue Sunday September 16th.