As a form of monumental sculpture rarely undertaken today, the fountain at Wylie Conference Center may stand alone for its size, its scope, and its detail. According to our research, it is the largest such piece of public art to be constructed north of Boston in many years. A plaque on the fountain reads:
Artist and interior designer, Debra Vitkosky has worked extensively not only in fine art and design, but also in the creation of custom furnishings, architectural details, light fixtures, three dimensional art, and sculpture. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from San Francisco Art Institute and a Master of Education in Arts and Learning from Endicott College. In addition to two years of post-graduate work in interior design on the West Coast, Debra studied fine art restoration and conservation in Florence, Italy, and is a member of The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.
Shelly Bradbury holds a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Boston University. She has served as an adjunct professor at Boston University and Gordon College, and she has exhibited works throughout Massachusetts and in New York City, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. Her prestigious awards include the Helen Foster Barnett Award in Sculpture from the National Academy of Design in New York City, the Audubon Artists Gold Medal of Honor from the Salmagundi Club, and the Anna Hyatt Huntington Award from the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club. Shelly works from her studio in Ipswich, Massachusetts.
Rock of Ages is the largest integrated quarrier, manufacturer, and retailer of memorials in North America. Chosen for the quality of their product and their years of experience, the team at Rock of Ages – which included Brian Koziar, project manager; Denis Gaboriault, engineer; and John Hanna, primary sculptor – worked closely with the design team from Endicott to translate drawings and models into the impressive stone expressions found in the Fountain at Wylie Conference Center.