There's a new addition to the exterior of the Whitestone Public Library and Technology Centre in Parry Sound District, and it's hard to miss.
It's a 10-metre high fishing pole created by Buffalo, New York native Albert Gilewicz.
Gilewicz is no stranger to the Whitestone area.
He was six months old when his parents built a family cabin at nearby Lake Wahwashkesh in the early 1960s, and he's been visiting the area ever since.
Nowadays Gilewicz visits the family cabin with his wife P.J. Watkins.
Gilewicz is an engineer but also an artist.
He says that the concept of building a 10-metre tall fishing pole is something he's toyed with for years.
“The question was where and how to do it,” Gilewicz said.
The first part of the question was answered while Gilewicz visited the Whitestone library a while back and learned of its fishing pole and tackle box lending program.
Whitestone Librarian and CEO Eva Fincham says the fishing poles are provided through the Tackleshare program which was initiated by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.
A woman donated two additional kits while the Whitestone Rod and Gun Club donated ice fishing kits.
When Gilewicz approached Fincham about his idea, she was interested, but at the same time Fincham also found it hard to visualize a 10-metre fishing pole and, then there was the question of where to put it.
“He took a lot of pictures of the fishing rods we lend out,” she said.
“He wanted to model the giant fishing rod after the ones we have in the library”.
Fincham said the concept needed the approval of both the local library board and municipality which Gilewicz expected, and once he showed all the parties designs of his vision, it didn't take long for everyone to come on board.
Gilewicz says he “grew up fishing” in the Whitestone area and over the years he developed “a passion and a sense of home” for the area.
He and his parents got to know many of the year-round residents over the years, and when Gilewicz conceptualized the fishing pole, he thought “Why not here.”
As an engineer, Gilewicz had the skill set to make a structurally strong sculpture.
The components also had to fit in his sedan since he would be building the artwork in Buffalo and then driving the sections to Whitestone where they would be assembled.
“That changes how you think of the construction,” he said
“But it also forces you to think about how to make it safe and secure”.
The result was a fishing pole made up of eight pieces and constructed from PVC pipes.
The handle which supports the fishing reel is the thickest section with a four-inch diameter pipe that's connected to a three-inch pipe followed by a stream of smaller pipes until the tip of the rod is reached which is made from a half-inch pipe.
The fishing rod's hook runs through the Dr. Seuss book 'One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish'.
Gilewicz would have preferred to see the hook pass through Ernest Hemingway's novel "The Old Man and the Sea” but his wife and friends convinced him to go with Dr. Seuss since it will have more meaning to children who see the giant fishing pole.
The pole is anchored to the library roof and Gilewicz says nothing but a catastrophic storm is knocking it down.
Gilewicz dry-fitted the pipes in Buffalo to make sure there were no connection issues, and Whitestone municipal staff helped erect the fishing pole.
Gilewicz said the municipal employees were comfortable with the construction.
The fishing pole went up during the Victoria Day long weekend and will come down at Thanksgiving.
Gilewicz isn't sure where the sculpture will go after it's taken down.
The library held a ceremony to recognize Gilewicz's art piece.
Library board member Josh Davis officiated and talked about Gilewicz's 60-plus-year association with the Whitestone region.
While in Grade 1, a teacher of Gilewicz recognized he was dyslexic, but Davis pointed out this didn't hold back the future engineer and artist.
“He developed a unique way of thinking that helped him excel in engineering but his creative side has always shown through,” Davis said.
“It's allowed him to solve technical problems with 'out of the box' thinking and to create stunning art that speaks to both mind and heart”.
Davis also highlighted the art residencies Gilewicz has been part of over the years and these have taken him to places like Barcelona, Denmark, and South Carolina.
Davis said Gilewicz is a person who is passionate about the environment and responsible energy use and he brings those attributes to his art.
“Albert combines his background in engineering with his love for creativity making his work unique and thought-provoking,” he said.
“He's explored environmental themes and created works that connect deeply with their surroundings”.
Davis added Gilewicz has that ability to turn “everyday objects into powerful works of art” as is shown by the 10-metre fishing rod.
Davis said Gilewicz's giant fishing pole “isn't just a nod to the joys of fishing”.
“It's also a symbol of the beauty and calm that art brings to our lives,” he said.
Rocco Frangione is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter with The North Bay Nugget. LJI is funded by the Government of Canada.
