The Whitestone Public Library and Technology Centre in the Parry Sound area has a new look that's hard to miss.
This is a 10-metre fishing pole made by Albert Gilewicz of Buffalo, New York.
Gilewitz is no stranger to the Whitestone area.
He was six months old when his parents built the family cabin on nearby Lake Wawaskesh in the early 1960s and has been visiting the area ever since.
Currently, Gilewitz is visiting his family's cabin with his wife, PJ Watkins.
Gilewicz is both an engineer and an artist.
He told the North Bay Nugget that the idea of building a 10-metre-tall fishing pole is something he's had for years.
“The question is where and how to do it,” Gilewicz said.
The first part of the question was answered when Gilewicz visited the Whitestone Library a while back and learned about their fishing pole and tackle box loan program.
Whitestone Librarian and CEO Eva Fincham said the fishing poles are being provided through the TackleShare program, which
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.
One woman donated two more kits and the Whitestone Rod and Gun Club donated an ice fishing kit.
When Gilewicz told Fincham about the idea, she was interested, but she also found it hard to visualize a 10-metre fishing pole, and then there was the issue of where to put it.
“He took a lot of photos of the fishing poles we were renting out,” she said.
“He wanted to make a giant fishing pole modeled after one in the library.”
Fincham said the idea required approval from both the local library board and the municipality, which Girevitz was hopeful about, but once he showed all the stakeholders the blueprints of his idea, it didn't take long for everyone to be on board.
Gilewicz said he “grew up fishing” in the Whitestone area and has developed a “passion and hometown feel” for the region over the years.
Over the years, he and his parents got to know many of the year-round residents here, so when Gilewicz conceived the idea for a fishing pole, he thought, “Let's try it here.”
As an engineer, Gilewicz had the skills to create structurally sound sculptures.
The pieces also had to fit into a sedan, because he planned to create the artwork in Buffalo and then drive the pieces to Whitestone to assemble it there.
“It changes the way you think about construction,” he said.
“But we also need to think about how to make people feel safe and secure.”
The result was an eight-piece fishing pole made from PVC pipe.
The handle that holds the fishing reel is the thickest part with a 4-inch diameter pipe attached, which is connected to a 3-inch pipe, followed by a succession of smaller pipes, culminating in the tip of the rod made of half-inch pipe.
A fishing rod hook penetrates the Dr. Seuss book “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.”
Mr. Gilewicz had hoped to see the hook pass through Ernest Hemingway's “The Old Man and the Sea,” but his wife and friends persuaded him to choose a Dr. Seuss book, saying it would be more meaningful to kids his age seeing a giant fishing pole.
The column was fixed to the library's roof, and Gilewicz said it was only toppled over by the devastating storm.
Girevitz did a test run of the pipes in Buffalo to make sure the connections would work, and Whitestone city officials helped set up the fishing poles.
Girevitz said city officials are pleased with the construction work.
The fishing poles will be set up over the Victoria Day long weekend and taken down in time for Thanksgiving.
Gilewicz said he doesn't know where the sculpture will go after it's removed.
The library held a ceremony to recognize Gilewicz's artwork.
Library Board Member Josh Davis moderated the event and spoke about Gilewitz's more than 60-year involvement with the Whitestone community.
When Gilewicz was in first grade, his teacher discovered he was dyslexic, but Davis noted that didn't hinder his development as a future engineer and artist.
“He developed a unique way of thinking that helped him excel in engineering, but his creative side always emerged,” Davis said.
“This has allowed him to think 'outside the box' to solve technical problems and create incredible works of art that speak to the heart and soul.”
Davis also highlighted the arts residencies that Gilewicz has participated in over the years, which he said have taken him to places like Barcelona, Denmark and South Carolina.
Davis said Girevitz is a passionate person about the environment and responsible energy use, and he reflects those traits in his art.
“Albert combines his engineering background with his love of creativity, making his work unique and thought-provoking,” he said.
“He has explored environmental themes and created work that deeply connects with his surroundings.”
Davis added that Gilewicz has the ability to “transform everyday objects into powerful works of art,” as the 10-metre fishing pole demonstrates.
Davis said Gilewicz's giant fishing pole “is more than just a representation of the joy of fishing.”
“It's also a symbol of the beauty and serenity that art brings to our lives,” he said.
Rocco Frangione, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, North Bay Nugget
