By Francesca Merwin, staff writer

There is a grand community of artists in Syracuse – some well-known, some at the creative fringe, and others whom we have yet to discover. One of our aims on the Connective Corridor is to seek out these folks and highlight their endeavors. For the next several months, we will follow Brendan Rose, Syracuse Public Artist in Residence (SPAR), and his triumphs (and sometimes trials) as an up-and-coming regional artist. Consider this an insider’s look into one local artist’s life.

You’d be amazed by the amount of weird looks you get as you run around downtown on a Friday afternoon, video camera in hand, asking people, “Excuse me, can you tell me your love story?” For every five people you actually convince to stop, maybe one of them will tell you their story. But that’s fine by me, because I am on a mission. I’m on a mission for Brendan Rose.

Let me back track. Rose sent out a city-wide call in mid-September, asking people to submit their stories of love in Syracuse via snail or e-mail. He described the process in last month’s article as an experiment to figure out if the public would “play art with him” and help him to create his next installation. The result? “I got zero,” Rose laments. “It’s amazing and also not surprising. Who sits down and writes a story to someone? It is kind of old fashioned.” Despite the poor response initially, Rose never gave up on the idea.

“It’s really hard to know where those points of success are,” he says. “If I really want these stories, I need to figure out a better way to get it.”

This is where the videotaping and running around downtown with a camera came into play. With a little perseverance, we were able to get people to talk. And we met with even more success when we filmed during October’s Salt City Urban Art and Craft Market. Now that Rose has collected a variety of stories (and believe me, there are a variety!), he will now decide how to put them together into his next grand installation.

 

As one project enters its beginning stages, another is winding down… winding down Walton Street, that is! Rose’s first installation, a giant serpent, will be complete this month. Recent updates to the project include ceramic eyes, a 12’ tall tail, and a new name in the form of “Walt, the Loch West Monster” (a combination offered by Jeff Nadge and Chris Deferio). The name, selected from over 200 entries by a committee, pays homage to the site on which the sculpture sits. While Rose approves of his creation’s new moniker, he definitely liked some of the other suggestions, too. “I liked The Creekture, The Creeper, Boeheim and Chisel-Cuse,” he laughs, “Just because it’s a fun thing to say.”  

Walt, the Loch West Monster, will have his moment to shine during his debut – “The Molting of Walt” – on Friday, November 11, at 12:30. Later that evening, the community is invited to a fundraising SPARty, which will take place from 5:30-9 pm, at the SPAR Space in the State Tower Building. For $20 at the door, folks can support the SPARtist, enjoy live music and drinks, and take in some more of Rose’s art. It will be a big day for Syracuse’s Public Artist in Residence! He’s been working on the project for so long, that the completion is a momentous occasion. “I’ll feel so proud when it’s done – it’s a cool piece and when it gets wrapped up, it’ll be even better.”

In the meantime, Rose is also working on “The Rack Pack,” a project with 40 Below’s Public Arts Taskforce to install creative bike racks all around Syracuse. The multicolored racks will be yet another unique landmark with the Rose name attached to it. Stay tuned for next month’s article to see completed pictures of the bike rack, an exclusive interview with Walt, the Loch West Monster (kidding!), and updates to Rose’s journey for love in Syracuse.