To the accompaniment of “Honky Tonk Train Blues” and “Down By The Riverside” played on an electric piano, the latest work of public art to be installed in Poughkeepsie was unveiled at the railroad station in the presence of county dignitaries and citizens on Friday afternoon, April 11.
Titled “A Treasure Map,” the painted sculpture located in the small room near the doors that lead to the covered walkway and bus depot is the work of Amenia-based artist Tilly Strauss, and depicts 154 local sites and associated resources superimposed in layered collage format on a map of Dutchess County.
Standing 10 feet tall and six feet wide on a reinforced aluminum frame, the artwork was commissioned by the Dutchess County Arts Council with support from the Dutchess County Industrial Development Agency and the National Endowment for the Arts. A request for proposals was put out by the Arts Council in 2006, and Strauss’ concept was chosen out of 20 entries.
Speaking before the unveiling, Arts Council President Benjamin Krevolin expressed his view of why this was the winning design.
“It is a work which invites people to start at the train station and explore the art and life of Dutchess County,” he said.
The cornucopia depicted on this living map ranges from landmarks like the Roosevelt home in Hyde Park and the Bardavon theater in Poughkeepsie to symbolic manifestations of county resources such as wineries, crops, horses, cattle, boats and balloons. The vivid colors, not-to-scale representations, and the fact that there is another painting depicting the railroad station hidden on the other side of the sculpture facing the wall all serve to create a feeling of loving and exuberant whimsy.
“This work reflects the history of our county, images we can be proud of,” said County Executive William Steinhaus. “It is another step in the revitalization of the train station that began in 2002, transforming it into a real gateway to Dutchess County.”
“As mayor of Poughkeepsie, I am deeply aware of all of the local gems we have in our city and county,” said Mayor John Tkazyik. “Therefore this sculpture is in a very appropriate location, a map that will lead people to them.”
“It was a lot of fun to work on,” Strauss said. “There are 154 sites hidden here, so you have to look close. Because it’s a collage, I was able to hide more in it. I tried to strike a balance between the map and the art. In the end I can say that because it represents a lot of my favorite things, it is much more than a geographical, historical, cultural or economic map – it is an emotional map.”