NEWS & EVENTS

Over the Edge Launch Party Preview

First Friday wire sculptures foreshadow summer rappelling fundraiser

PETER SHAVER / PUBLISHED: MARCH 1, 2017

People passing the Bank Towers on Friday may notice an unusual sight: a 6-foot-tall wire figure suspended in motion as it rappels down Scranton’s tallest building.

The sculpture is part of NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Over the Edge launch party taking place at 321 Spruce St. from 5 to 8 p.m. as part of the First Friday Art Walk. The party seeks to raise awareness about June’s Over the Edge event, during which people can rappel down the building to support the local nonprofit. Friday’s exhibit showcases Plymouth artist Sean Brady’s adventure- and rappelling-themed wire sculptures, which he has made since 1998.

“I was out in Oregon, just playing with wire in a greenhouse that I worked in, and I made a little figure and somebody liked it,” Brady said. “So, I just kept going.”

After returning to the East Coast a decade ago, wire sculpture became Brady’s full-time job. He exhibits throughout the Northeast and sells his work in Philadelphia, New Jersey, at On&On in Scranton and at Earth and Wears in Dallas.

Brady described his work as well-aligned with the launch party’s theme. Portraying sports and action in his art always interested him.

“I lean toward figures with movement, so it’s not so stagnant,” Brady said.

Sandra Snyder, development and events coordinator for NeighborWorks NEPA, described the charity’s focus as “improving neighborhoods through improving individual homes.” The organization offers painting and landscaping assistance to people in need as well as help with critical home modifications, such as walk-in showers, wheelchair ramps and other safety installations.

Last year, the group began Over the Edge to generate attention and support its causes. Along with quickening the pulse of participants, Snyder said, the fundraising event aims to better the wellbeing and independence of NEPA’s older residents, specifically supporting “projects that help people remain in their homes as they age.”

The Rev. Jeffrey Walsh of Scranton, a previous attendee, said organizers “invested a lot of effort into making everyone feel comfortable, even though there’s a fear factor in rappelling down twelve flights of a building.” Theresa Collins rappelled at the event and can’t wait to do it again this summer.

“It was awesome,” Collins said. “I mean, I was a little nervous to do it. I’ve never done anything like that before.”

The Over the Edge launch party is free and open to the public, and it offers free wine, snacks and trivia games with prizes. Snyder hopes it attracts anyone interested in NeighborWorks or rappelling for a cause.

“If anyone’s even thinking about it, we’d love for them to come out,” she said.

Contact the writer:

pshaver@timesshamrock.com

If you go

What: Over the Edge

launch party

When: Friday, 5 to 8 p.m.

Where: Second-floor lobby, Bank Towers, 321 Spruce St.

Details: Admission is free. Event includes wine, snacks and Game Show Mania trivia with DJ Mike Walton for prizes.

Click here to read the full article on The Times-Tribune website.