Milton unveils Mill Park wood sculptures

Mill Park in Milton was the site Sept. 17 for the unveiling of three wood-carved sculptures that will be on display for the next six weeks.

The sculptures – “Gift of Hope,” “Maori Bloom” and “Gateways” – were created by Lewes artist Roy Fitzgerald and loaned to the Town of Milton. Public art displays were an initiative of the town’s economic development committee, chaired by Councilwoman Annette Babich, to draw more visitors and businesses to downtown Milton.

“I hope this is the first of many art unveilings in Milton,” Babich said.

Jessica Ball, director of the Delaware Division of the Arts, which partnered to help bring Fitzgerald and Milton together, said, “I’m happy to see a community come together over the arts.” She said public art displays help draw people to a community, retain residents and improve the quality of life. 

“I can see this as the beginning of a great partnership,” Ball said.

Fitzgerald learned wood sculpture after he retired from a career working for Crozer-Chester Medical Center near Philadelphia, and as an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Thomas Jefferson University. He took up wood carving after his wife gave him a carving chainsaw.

“I love to carve and it's become a great occupation for the past 25 years,” Fitzgerald said. 

He added that he put a marine varnish on the three pieces to make them stand up better to the elements.