Client: Town of Hyde Park, Vermont

Overview

Dan Gottsegen designed and created the public art: a railroad track themed steel structure which displays 20 glass panels from Gottsegen’s series of five paintings. Gottsegen met with numerous community members to create the Hyde Park images, paint them on canvas and digitally replicate them between glass panels. The panels will be viewable from the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail and three town highways. The panels colorfully represent Hyde Park’s history, economic activities, and built environments.
Focusing on LVRT projects that draw local families, tourists and potential investors to Hyde Park was a highlighted goal in the Town of Hyde Park Action Plan which states that the Town and Village should, align the existing community events with the asset of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, Green River Reservoir, mountain biking trails, and other outdoor recreation resources.
“The Vermont Arts Council is proud to have supported this stunning piece of landmark art by Dan Gottsegen. His sculpture will serve as a beautiful attraction to Hyde Park and the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail creating visual interest and telling the cultural, environmental, and historical story of the community.” Susan Evans McClure, Executive Director.

Goals

Focusing on LVRT projects that draw local families, tourists and potential investors to Hyde Park was a highlighted community goal in the 2020 Town of Hyde Park and Village of Hyde Park community planning effort report, the “Hyde Park Main Street Action Plan”. The Action Plan states that the Town and Village should, “Consider how to align the existing community events with the asset of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, Green River Reservoir, mountain biking trails, and other outdoor recreation resources. The primary purpose of creating event programming in the Village is to build energy. When people see that "things are happening" in Hyde Park they are more likely to get involved or come to the Village.” Town Administrator Ron Rodjenski stated, “Connecting the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail to the Village and Hyde Park overall in a pleasing and informative manner resulted in the use of art and history.”

Process

Gottsegen met with numerous community members to create the Hyde Park images, paint them on canvas and digitally replicate them between glass panels. He drew on flora and fauna of the area, uses of the trail, and the area's history to design the paintings which he then created in his studio. The paintings are digitally recreated in the architectural glass which is installed in a custom made steel structure that Gottsegen designed. The panels are be viewable from the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail and three town highways.

Additional Information

The community art project was first funded in April 2020 at the start of the pandemic. Grants and crowd-funding for the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT) amenity was completed on June 6th, at the conclusion of most pandemic measures. Strong community support and grants from the Vermont Arts Council (VAC) and the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Better Places program combined for project success, at times therapeutically. The LVRT art installation required no local property taxes and now adds to existing wayfinding signs connecting Route 15 to the LVRT and an upcoming trailhead improvement study funded by a Vermont Agency of Transportation LVRT Community Grant to encourage more visitors to Hyde Park.