      |
Canal Murals
Delaware Canal murals along Four murals based on the history of the Canal trace the construction of the 60 miles of the Delaware Canal in the late 1820s. The four panels of the mural depict the industrial significance of the Canal, the Clock Tower in Bristol, the lock at Point Pleasant, PA (north of New Hope), and the famous Canal mules on the towpath. The murals are installed adjacent to lock #11 at New Hope.
Robert Rosenwald's sculpture is a major part of New Hope's history. Like the murals which dot the landscape referencing the Impressionist and Realistic styles, public sculpture is a major part of the history and art of the town and defines the well known tradition of public art in the region. New Hope's first public sculpture commission, Sign of the Times, by Rosenwald demonstrates the sculptor's command of minimalist constructions and post-modern symbolism. The constructed metal piece recalls the post-war tradition of factory-inspired sculpture and conveys Rosenwald's mastery for uniting direct context with structure captivating all who view it.
Ney Alley and W. Mechanic Street The entrance to Ney Alley, historically served as an artist's studio space, art enclave, and fine art gallery. This location also served and continues to be a point of entry for a generation of 19th and 20th century artists. The Mural reflects upon the favorite subject matter of the New Hope School of Impressionism, the Canal.
Located along W. Mechanic
Street, In the tradition of the painters of the New Hope School (or the Pennsylvania Impressionists) including Edward Redfield, Walter Baum, and Walter Schofield, contemporary artists painted this grand mural located over 15 West Mechanic Street in New Hope.
Ney Alley was best known for providing the Pennsylvania Impressionists with a meeting place as well as a place to set up their easels and paint scenes along the Delaware Canal. These artists painted outdoors and directly captured each season on canvas using the same soft color palette and loose brushwork that was selected for this Impressionist mural.
Bucks County Playhouse, Best known as a gristmill, the New Hope Mill (now the site of the Bucks County Playhouse) was also a working sawmill before becoming the site of the Playhouse. There were many mills up and down the Delaware River such as the mills at New Hope and Stover Mill in Erwinna, Tinicum Township, Bucks County, PA
New Hope Railroad Station The New Hope Railroad Station has a traditional candlesnuffer roof form atop its prominent 19th century turret.
Many artists have been unable to resist the New Hope Railroad station stop when considering subjects for painting. In the early decades of this century, Ralston Crawford (American, 1906-1978) painted a wonderful work based on the structure which is in the collection of the Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA. More recently, local artist, Joseph Crilley painted the same scene of the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad in his own expressive style.
The turret is reminiscent of Victorian architecture yet the candlesnuffer roof is not all that common to American architecture. The roof form is not native to architecture in this area because Pennsylvania does not experience the snowfall amounts compared to other areas such as New England where the roof is more popular. The candlesnuffer roof was most frequently found in Germany, Austria and northern European or alpine areas. Its severe pitch sheds water and snow well and the form was introduced into this area by the Pennsylvania Germans and Dutch in the 17th Century.
Delaware Canal at Centre Bridge The towpath was the site where many artists placed their easels in order to capture landscape compositions en plein aire (painting outdoors) throughout the four seasons.
Ney Alley and the Delaware Canal provided great subject matter for the New Hope Impressionists and the New Hope Modernists. The towpath is named for the path that the mules take as they pull boats in the Canal. |
)
)
)
)