A statue of the ancient Greek tragedian Sophocles will be installed in Athens Square Park, 20th Street and 30th Avenue, some time in the near future. Support for Athens Square Park has been overwhelming since its initial groundbreaking ceremony in 1990 and the support continues for the sculpture work. The statue is the final element in the original concept of the park and will bring the original plan to completion. State, city and local officials in conjunction with the local community and Greek- Americans have pledged their support for this unprecedented achievement.
The sculpture will be seven feet tall and cast in bronze, on a two-foot –high granite pedestal from Cold Spring Granite, engraved with a brief biography and quotes from Sophocles’ plays. Roxanne Marriano is the statue’s moldmaker; wax, assembly and chasing will be done by the local Modern Art Foundry. More Specialized Transport of Hackensack, New Jersey will be responsible for the installation.
Sophocles, Chris Vilardi, the statue’s sculptor, explained, is considered by most modern scholars to be the greatest of the Greek tragedians. A man of wealth, charm, and genius, Sophocles was given posts of responsibility in peace and in war by the Athenians. He was a general and a priest; after his death he was worshiped as a hero. At the age of 16 he led the chorus in a pageant for the victory of Salamis.
“By researching a historical figure I am better able to portray them in a compelling way,” Vilardi said. “The many tales of Sophocles’ physical prowess were an influence on my sculpture. True to my style, I have added movement to what would most likely be a static subject. Creating a classical sculpture with a modern stylistic approach pays homage to the past while anchoring it in the present. In researching garments of the period that Sophocles lived I was inspired by the more ornate attire that I imagine a man of his station would wear. The tragedy mask, a prop in Greek theater, helps to cue the viewer as to who this figure was. I worked hard to have this sculpture be truly in the round and be visually compelling from all angles.”
Vilardi’s other media include oil painting and photography. According to his Web site biography, “My paintings and sculptures are primarily influenced by my fascination with the human form, nature, the city and how they are in harmony and in conflict with each other. Spatial relations and stylized forms most profoundly define my style.”
Vilardi added, “We’re hoping for an April 17 unveiling, because Greek Independence Day is April 15 and we’d like to get the Greek officials involved, but a lot depends on the fundraising as well as whether they’ll be available.”
A fundraiser, including an open bar and buffet, with music by Nicos Nicolaides and his Orchestra, to help bring about the historic moment in the completion and unveiling of the statue of Sophocles will be held Thursday, April 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Astoria World Manor, 25-22 Astoria Blvd. The community is invited to participate; donations are $75.
(source: The Queens Gazette)
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