For sophomore Bill Servant, Schenectady is more than his home away from home. It's
his canvas.
Servant, a studio art major from North Attleboro, Mass., has created an 8- by 10-foot
mural that will hang over the midfield stripe at the Center City Sportsplex,
Schenectady's indoor soccer facility. On Saturday, Servant's work will be
unveiled during a half-time ceremony at the Schenectady Shockers professional soccer game
at Center City, 433 State St.
“When Center City officials approached me last year looking for a student to
create a mural for their facility, Bill was a natural choice for the project,” said
Walter Hatke, professor of fine arts/painting and drawing. “Center City received a
grant to beautify the complex, and they asked Union for suggestions. Bill was enthusiastic
right from the start; he has created a wonderful piece.”
“The piece had to be very bright and very large to fit the space over the field;
it also had to represent all the sports that go on at Center City,” Servant said.
“I decided to use a series a hands against a backdrop of lacrosse sticks, soccer
balls and footballs.”
Designing a sketch was not the only difficult part of the project, according to
Servant. “I had to use a surface that would last, so I went with acrylic on plywood.
It has to stand up to flying soccer balls.”
Servant's career as resident Schenectady artist may not be over too soon. The
Schenectady Police Department is talking with him about a work for their headquarters,
and, says Brian Merriam, president of Center City's board, “We're hoping to
commission a second work from him this year.”