Finger Lakes Community College will open a new sculpture exhibit by a well-known Penn Yan artist this week, inviting the public to explore art that blends imagination, form, and experimentation. The exhibit, titled “Objects of Play,” opens Thursday, Feb. 5, at FLCC’s main campus in Canandaigua.
The show features work by sculptor Don Sottile and will be on display in the Williams-Insalaco Gallery 34 through March 13. Sottile will give an artist talk at 3 p.m., followed by a public reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.
Sottile is widely recognized for his public sculptures, including the statue commemorating Abraham Lincoln’s meeting with Grace Bedell in Westfield. Bedell famously urged Lincoln to grow whiskers in an 1860 letter, and Lincoln later met her in person while traveling to his inauguration. Sottile also created the sculpture of Daniel Penfield, founder of the Monroe County town, which stands at the intersection of Route 441 and Five Mile Line Road.
“Objects of Play” highlights a more abstract side of Sottile’s work, moving away from historical figures and toward sculptural forms that invite curiosity and interpretation. The exhibit reflects his interest in creativity, material, and playful design.
Sottile studied art at the State University College at Buffalo and the University of Siena in Italy. He has also worked as an art educator and has designed and built furniture throughout his career.
Gallery 34 is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
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