Welcoming Inspiration: “A Lifetime” Sculpture Unveiled
Susan Goldsmith, chair of the Board for JGS Lifecare; Dr. James Rosenthal; Representative Brian Ashe; artist James Kitchen; Senator Eric Lesser and Susan Kimball Halpern, vice president of philanthropy, JGS Lifecare, pose near “A Lifetime,” the new sculpture located outside the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation.
Over 100 people, including Senator Eric Lesser and Representative Brian Ashe, were present in November as JGS Lifecare unveiled a new sculpture by renowned local artist James Kitchen of Chesterfield.
Entitled “A Lifetime,” the sculpture, located outside the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation, was commissioned by Dr. James Rosenthal, who also sourced the rest of the local artwork on display inside the center.
“The Sosin Center was created to care for our community’s elders, and we felt that the art that surrounds and comforts them should be created by local artists to reflect the community in which they live,” said Susan Halpern, vice president of philanthropy, JGS Lifecare. “Jim both conceived of and coordinated our local art acquisition project.”
Rosenthal said, “I sought to commission a signature sculpture to complement and forever be linked to the mission we seek to fulfill here each day. We are dedicated to improving the physical, spiritual and emotional health of individuals and families. I believe that art is key in providing this sense of inner well-being and overall emotional health.”
Kitchen’s metal sculptures grace much of the Pioneer Valley, with over 100 in the downtown Springfield area alone. His creations are constructed of recycled items made of iron and steel, such as rusted tools and farm equipment.
The ascending and intertwining rings of “A Lifetime” come from old wagon wheels that traveled the streets of Springfield over a century ago, at the same time JGS Lifecare opened its doors to care for the community’s elderly on Massasoit Street. Also integrated into the sculpture are rings cut from piping installed in the new Sosin Center for Rehabilitation that opened in December 2016.
“The base of the sculpture is made of large and expansive circles, representing the limitless possibilities of youth,” remarked Kitchen. “In the middle, circles become more compressed and intertwined, representing how mid-life can be more complex as we balance relationships, parenting, working and common mid-life challenges, while the upper portion ascends gracefully to the heavens.”
Susan Goldsmith, chair of the board for JGS Lifecare thanked Rosenthal and Kitchen for “recognizing the impact that art has on creating nurturing and reflective spaces and promoting inner well-being.”
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