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caption, page 1:
Moving Day
Donny DiCostanzo of Donny D Excavation (green shirt) and his crew start the Faces of Putnam obelisk on its journey from the Montgomery Ward building to the Putnam Elementary School. More photos on page 5. Courtesy photo.
caption, page 5:
In Place
The Faces of Putnam obelisk is in place at the Putnam Elementary School. From left: Donny DiConstanzo, Dot Burnworth, and Kaye Jakan and Meghan Wakely of Putnam Elementary. Courtesy photos.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Not your imagination. Yes you might have seen a 10-foot tall Faces of Putnam obelisk on the move in the back of a pickup truck.
The 300-plus pound piece of artwork was created during a First Friday in 2019, according to lead artist Dot Burnworth of Sawmill Pottery downtown. Folks painted “self-portraits” and more onto tiles and Burnworth finished the tiles in a kiln and then attached them to the obelisk. She said three sides were finished and then … COVID hit. The fourth side was finished during COVID as the obelisk sat on a landing inside the Montgomery Ward building.
Burnworth said the building was sold during COVID and the new landlord wanted the obelisk moved.
Economic and Community Development Director Carly DeLuca said her first week on the job last fall; Burnworth came to her and said the obelisk needed to be moved. DeLuca talked with Parks and Rec Director Willie Bousquet about potential spots for the art. She knew that any outside spot would mean deterioration. One spot suggested was the Putnam Elementary School.
Once school was out, the move was on. DeLuca said Donny D Excavation was kind enough to move the obelisk gratis. It had to be moved down stairs, down a hill and onto a truck for its move to the school.
It was moved into a common area at the school. Because of its height was settled into a spot with enough “headroom.”
DeLuca said: “Putnam is known for its arts and we’re happy to continue spreading art throughout town in any way we can.” She anticipated there would be “full-circle moments” when people would come back and see what was created – perhaps by their younger selves.
She said she considers one of her roles as a “conduit for artists.”
The picture is with Donny, Dot, Kaye Jakan and Meghan Wakely.
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