KaBOOM! It's music time.

WELLSVILLE: The Fassett Greenspace Project has grown from phase one, the garden, toward phase 2, the teaching/play area with a generous grant from KaBOOM!.

            KaBoom isn’t a noise or a shout, it’s an idea that promotes play and for Wellsville it’s a set of 6 sculptural musical instruments to be permanently installed at the Fassett Greenspace Project. KaBOOM! and the Ralph C Wilson, Jr. Foundation awarded Built To Play funds to Wellsville’s amazing new community space for the purchase of the instruments.

Phase 1, the garden,
Photo by Elaine Hardman

            Built to Play is funding several discovery areas throughout Southeast Michigan and Western New York with the hope of inspiring active, creative, outdoor free play for children. Built to Play called for grant proposals for projects that would integrate play into everyday life in unexpected places and found the formerly empty lot at Fassett and Main Street with its life-sustaining garden and planed performance space a perfect fit. The grant proposal, written by Art for Rural America president, Cassandra Bull with an assist from Andrew Harris, brings $20,000, the cost of the instruments.

Aria, one of the six sculptural instrument
 to be installed at Fassett Greenspace Project.
Photo courtesy of Freenote Harmony Park.

            Why get instruments? Art for Rural America, the umbrella organization that is transforming the Fassett lot into a place for healthy living, hopes to have a positive impact on the social sustainability of the Wellsville community. AFRA sees music as a cultural phenomenon that builds community by strengthening relationships between people of diverse backgrounds. These outdoor instruments will invite a wide audience, encourage group play, stimulate improvisation, and allow for physical activity for families.

Contrabas Chimes, one of the six sculptural instrument
 to be installed at Fassett Greenspace Project. Photo courtesy of Freenote Harmony Park.

            AFRA’s President, Cassandra Bull, said, “Music is a universal language that brings benefits to listeners and creators. These sculptural instruments offer an environment for physical and cooperative play, creative expression, and emotional regeneration.”

            To learn more about the Fassett Greenspace Project go to ArtForRuralAmerica.org and choose Fassett Greenspace or find us on Facebook. To donate toward the installation of the instruments, send checks made out to Fassett Greenspace Project to AFRA, 130 North Main Street, Wellsville, NY 14895.

The Manta Ray, one of the six sculptural instrument
 to be installed at Fassett Greenspace Project.
Photo courtesy of Freenote Harmony Park.

            AFRA board members, including Bull, Harris, Andy Glanzman and Elaine Hardman are available to speak to your community organization. Contact us at ArtForRuralAmerica@Gmail.com or 585-808-0385. Volunteers with gardening knowledge willing to weed or water are always appreciated.