Stephen Dignazio
Northern Forest Canoe Trail
2002–2004
Art and Community Landscapes Grant: National Park Service, National Endowment for the Arts, LEF Foundation, New England Foundation for the Arts, Vermont Arts Council. With artists Evan Haynes and Ron Smith.
Three projects were created under this grant to focus attention on the emerging Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) and two towns on the Missisquoi River in northwestern VT. The stone canoe in Swanton, VT was carved from local marble. It formed a gathering spot and marked a canoe portage at the site of a former marble mill and ancient Wabanaki fishing site. Upstream from the stone canoe, an unmarked dam was highlighted by artist designed, rotating dam warnings, guiding paddlers to the portage.
Richford, VT was invited to create a community self-portrait with 100 cameras and notebooks provided by the artists. Over 1000 photos created an archive for the Historical Society, became the basis for an exhibition and led to 6 postcards featuring the town’s position on the NFCT.
Bethlehem Community Portrait
2003
The Community Portrait was developed to increase economic and community development in the town of Bethlehem, New Hampshire. The CD is a visual and sound portrait featuring nine interviews with community members including a third generation Abenaki basket maker declared a national treasure by the Smithsonian, and a visual and video artist living in a former church among others.
