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Award-Winning Sculptor Selected to Create Anthony Statue

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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A mockup of what the Anthony statue might look like. 
ADAMS, Mass. — A sculptor who has immortalized the likes of Shaquille O'Neal, Yogi Berra and Pope John Paul II in bronze has been selected to cast Adams' most celebrated figure: Susan B. Anthony. 
 
The Adams Suffrage Centennial Celebration committee has selected award-winning sculptor Brian Hanlon to create the life-size bronze of Anthony and a smaller figure of her as a child.
 
Committee member William Kolis told the Selectmen on Wednesday that the committee received interest from 13 sculptors but voted to recommend the New Jersey-based sculptor to create the proposed statute.
 
"I will tell you ... the proposals were of the first order and were inspired in different directions," Kolis said. "We got a wide variety and, in the end, it became very difficult to wade through it all ... but the one we bring to you today is a consensus of the committee." 
 
The initiative started near two years ago as the committee formed to organize a yearlong celebration in 2020 to mark the 100th anniversary of passing the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote and the 200th birthday of Anthony.
 
Anthony was an early and important leader in the American suffragette movement. She was born at the Anthony home on East Road, where her birthplace is now a museum, and members of her family continue to live in Adams. 
 
Hanlon is a classically trained master sculptor who has created more than 300 pieces of public and private pieces and operates a foundry in Toms River, N.J. He may be may be best known in Massachusetts as the official sculptor of the Naismith Memorial Basket Ball Hall of Fame in Springfield. His sculpture of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of basketball, with several children was unveiled at the museum several years ago.
 
The proposed statue of Anthony will be of her as an adult standing on top of a set of steps with a younger version of herself below, linking her time as an adult activist and her early years growing up in Adams. Kolis said the adult statue will be 8 feet tall and the child statute will be a proportionate size.
 
"The Quaker values that she grew up on are here and I think kind of relate to what the values of a small town are," Kolis said. "Integrity, equality, commitment to service and honesty ... I would actually love to see that engraved in the first step."
 
Kolis said the project drew a lot of attention and sculptors from throughout the world but the committee felt Hanlon's skill and geographical location made him the obvious choice. 
 
"Part of it has to do with Brian's enthusiasm for the project ... and his geographic location allowed him to come to and view the site," he said. 
 
The plan is to locate the statue at the Town Common. 
 
Kolis said Hanlon was interviewed by the committee in person and was actually able to view the site and make recommendations. Kolis added that because he has his own foundry, Hanlon can do his finish work himself. 
 
The artist had also suggested using a live, local model for the design of the younger Susan. Anthony was born in 1820 so there are no images of her younger years, although there are numerous paintings and photographs of her as an adult. A digital representation of her at age 6 was created by special effects artist Diana Walczek in 2010.
 
"He suggested maybe having a contest to look for someone age 5 or 5," Kolis said. "That could be an interesting way to get the community more involved."
 
This brought Kolis to the dollar amount and he said Hanlon has offered to do the project for $130,000.
 
Kolis said this is actually a good price and that the going rate for a statue of the like is usually closer to $150,000. Kolis said Hanlon is interested in the project and is giving the town a deal.
 
"I will tell you that that is not the highest ... Mr. Hanlon assured us that with $130,000 there are some freebies he will throw in and he really wants to do this sculpture." 
 
Kolis said the group has already raised $35,000 and with matching grants from Adams Community Bank, it is already over the $50,000 mark.
 
"We have seen a lot of support from the town, but we still have a ways to go," he said.
 
Kolis said the fundraising goal for the entire celebration is $300,000. A committee member added that state Rep. John Barrett III, D-North Adams,has put in an amendment for another $50,000 and urged residents to call the other Berkshire representatives to support the amendment.
 
Selectman Joseph Nowak, speaking as a committee member, said it would be worth cleaning up the Town Common a bit before the statue is put in place.
 
Interim Town Administrator Donna Cesan said it is on the town's radar.
 
"I thought it would not only be a gesture but a companion effort," she said. "We know the Town Common needs upgrades and we would like to have them complete prior to the setting of the statue."
 
Chairman John Duval suggested that they rename the park after Susan B. Anthony in the future.
 
Kolis said the statue would be dedicated in August 2020 and it would likely take a year to create.
 
The Selectmen will officially vote to chose Hanlon at a future meeting.
 
Donations toward the statue can be made at celebratesusanbanthony.org.

Tags: centennial,   sculpture,   Susan B. Anthony,   

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Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
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