Youth Projects at Hudson Amtrak Station

On Saturday, August 21, 2004 Time & Space Limited TSL Youth members formally dedicated their Functional Sculpture Benches to the Hudson Amtrak Station. As part of TSL's Youth Program Visiting Artist Series, local artist/sculptor John Corcoran donated his time to Hudson youth to design and build four public art benches for the Hudson Amtrak Station, coordinated through Stationmaster Bob Murphy with TSL Youth Coordinator Maija Reed and TSL director Linda Mussmann.

The Program began in May at John Corcoran's studio where the children saw his workspace and some of his own art and materials and discussed the possibilities of sculpture made for specific utilitarian functions. The next meeting was held at the Hudson Amtrak Station where the children came up with their group design with Corcoran, assisted by TSL youth coordinator Maija Reed and staff members Hannah Jarrell and Matthew Brown.

Williams Lumber and Home Centers of Greenport donated lumber and new safety equipment for the students to realize their design. In early June, John met with the students and staff members at TSL and taught them, as they worked through each step of the construction and assembly of the project. The students put the finishing touches on the benches in paint (partially donated by Schrader's Home Interior) and prepared them for public use at their new home. Amtrak has taken on the benches with plans for further preservation so that they will continue to serve those who pass through the station.

The student builders are Bryce Corbois, Dylan Meyer, Myles Shepard, Friedolin Stockmeier and their fellow designers and painters Talib Barksdale, Shafiquil Islam, Sharece Johnson, Kayla Nguyen, Chris Watson, Darren Watson.