North Castle Family, Artist Bring Sculpture to Public Library

When sculptor Sean Landau finished a six-and-a-half foot stainless steel work more than two years ago, he didn’t envision that it would find a permanent home on the lawn in front of the North Castle Public Library.

Now that it’s graced the property for the past two months, the Queens, N.Y.-based artist couldn’t be happier with its permanent home.

“It’s incredible that it fits perfectly. It looks great,” Landau remarked of the sculpture that he titled “Why.” “I said the day it was installed the piece fits just right. I didn’t create it for the space but it looks like I did.”

Landau’s work caught the eye of local community members after he was featured last September at the Friends of the North Castle Public Library’s renowned Armonk Outdoor Art Show. He was honored as the emerging artist at the show as well as winning an award in the sculpture category.

A local family, who wishes to remain anonymous for now, donated an undisclosed amount of money to the town earlier this year to buy the piece and place it in a public space. The town’s Highway Department poured the concrete base and helped affix it to the spot near the library’s main entrance in June. There will be a ceremony to unveil a plaque where the family and Landau will be recognized at a later date.

Landau, a 2012 graduate of SUNY Purchase, said he designed the work while the country was still in the midst of its economic downturn, at the same time he was going through challenges in his personal life.

While visitors can search for the letters W, H and Y from top to bottom in the piece, he hopes it will make community members pause to reflect on what is important to them.

“It’s something that people can come by, stop, take a look, figure out the letters and what it says and just think, to take some time to ask themselves some questions,” explained Landau, who is also a graphic designer and works out of a studio he rents in his home borough.

At a recent town board meeting where the public announcement of the gift was made, Armonk resident and artist Amy Dworetzky lauded Landau and the family for helping to beautify the community. Dworetzky, a volunteer at the art show, said she hopes that the piece will start a trend of having more art grace public spaces in North Castle.

“This family recognized the importance of public art, stepped forward and made a very important donation and contribution to our community,” she said. “The emotional investment to the sculpture the family chose was personal and now the community has the opportunity to share the experience.”

Councilwoman Diane DiDonato-Roth, the town board’s liaison to the Beautification Committee, said she hopes that other art can be placed in the future by town hall in Armonk, the community center in North White Plains and Winkler Park in Banksville.

“Adding something like this adds to the beauty of the town and increases the value of our community,” DiDonato-Roth said.

As a child, Landau said he constantly worked with Play-Doh and clay. It was in college, however, where he first attended Stony Brook on Long Island before transferring to Purchase, that he was introduced to working with metal. Landau said he first designs his pieces on the computer, then starts shaping them by sawing and welding. “Why” weighs about 150 pounds.

His work includes a combination of commissioned pieces he sculpts for clients’ properties and works that he creates on his own and looks to sell at various art shows.

Landau said he was impressed with not only the Armonk Outdoor Art Show but how it includes a wide cross section of the town.

“I see it as a community and a family oriented event,” he said.

The Armonk Outdoor Art Show, featuring more than 185 juried artists, will be held this year on Sept. 28 and 29 at Business Park Drive. For more information, visit www.armonkoutdoorartshow.org.