Steven Kowalsky, November 20, 2023
Item
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Title
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Steven Kowalsky, November 20, 2023
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interviewee
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Steven Kowalsky
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interviewer
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Gavin Turowski
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Date
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2023-11-20
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Subject
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Art
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Care Net
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Change
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Community
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Earth Day
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Empire Recycling Company
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Family
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Generational
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Homeless
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Old School
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Partnership
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Recycling
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Revitalization
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Sculpture Space
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Utica
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Utica Rescue Mission
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Description
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Steven Kowalsky is an impactful and important figure in Utica, New York. Kowalsky was born in Utica and is the President of Empire Recycling Company. Empire Recycling is a company that collects and recycles scrap metals in Utica and the surrounding Mohawk Valley. It is a generational company with Mr. Kowalsky having the title of president passed down from his father. Due to his large company, Mr. Kowalsky can be seen investing in multiple organizations of Utica with one of these being Sculpture Space.
Sculpture Space is an organization whose main mission is to discover and recognize up to twenty sculptors each year. These artists are then brought to Utica where they work in the Sculpture Space facility perfecting and honing their craft. In part through Kowalsky’s patronage, Sculpture Space has found success in the Utica area. This patronage has taken many forms, including lending scrap metal to sculptors and providing space for events and activities.
Steven Kowalsky’s involvement with community organizations is extensive. He serves on the board, for example, of the Utica Rescue Mission and Care Net. Kowalsky also has an interest in the arts and his family has forged many connections with the artists of Sculpture Space.
I interviewed Mr. Kowalsky at his place of work at the Empire Recycling Company conference room. He had just gotten out of a conference call with some of his other employees as well as a discussion with Sculpture Space. While the majority of the interview is about Sculpture Space and Mr. Kowalsky’s company, we also discuss his family and his wife as well as his thoughts on defining art and critiques of Sculpture Space.
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Time Summary
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START OF TRACK 1, 0:00- Introductions
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TRACK 1, 7:15- Company involvement with Sculptor Space
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TRACK 1, 7:24- Earth Day event
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TRACK 1, 10:34- Working with Sculpture Space
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TRACK 1, 12:46- founding of Sculpture Space
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TRACK 1, 17:17- Art and personal
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TRACK 1, 24:05- Mixing of new and old
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TRACK 1, 25:19- Jonh Von Burgen and Charlie Fisher
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TRACK 1, 28:00- Wife art and involvement with Sculpture Space
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END OF TRACK 1, 30:00 BEGINNING OF TRACK 2, 0:00
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TRACK 2, 1: 56- Involvement with Sculpture Space
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TRACK 2, 3:10- Patronage to Sculpture Space
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TRACK 2, 13:24- Issues facing Utica
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TRACK 2, 16:53- life in Utica
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TRACK 2, 20:19- revitalization efforts of Utica
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TRACK 2, 25:45- Changes to Sculpture Space
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END OF TRACK 2, 27:18
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Creator
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Gavin Turowski
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Publisher
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Cooperstown Graduate Program, State University of New York at Oneonta
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Rights
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Cooperstown Graduate Association, Cooperstown, NY
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Sculpture Space, Utica, NY
