Trustees of the Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library honored former Library Director Pat Fickett with a sculpture in her honor, which will be permanently on display in one of the library alcoves.
Fickett, who retired earlier this year, served as director for more than a decade. The sculpture, a pair of abstract birds covered in gold and silver leaf, were crafted by Mike Kline, owner of Galerie Oiseaux on Wilton’s Main Street.
The sculpture was unveiled in a ceremony at the library Friday. Kline said he often uses birds in his art to represent human relationships, and that was what sprung to mind when Library Trustee Felice Fullam contacted him about creating the sculpture.
“This is about relationships,” Kline told Fickett after unveiling the pieces. While the birds are two separate pieces, Kline said they are always meant “to always be in relation to each other.” The gold and silver leaf is a reference to the saying, “ Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.”
Fickett, whose goals included adding more art and music when she joined the library as director, said the gift was especially appropriate.
Fickett said birds had special meaning to her, and that she often connects seeing certain birds with the memories of her loved ones, and the meaning behind the piece was particularly meaningful, as the relationships she had built were the most-important things she would be taking with her.
“The hardest part of leaving here is that those relationships will be memories,” Fickett said.
Fickett thanked each of the trustees present personally for their work with her on the library during her tenure there. She plans to move west to Colorado in her retirement, but said she would remember Wilton fondly.
In a toast to Fickett, Library Trustee Ron Brown compared Fickett’s departure to a migration, and noted that while a migration involves leaving, it also involves coming back, and Fickett would always be welcome.
“There will always be a home here in Wilton, here in this library, and here in our hearts,” Brown told Fickett.
Fickett echoed the sentiment, saying she would always feel a strong connection to the community where she has made her home, and plans to return to visit often.
“My heart will always be here. Who knew all those years ago what this place would mean to me?” Fickett said. “I came to this profession late. I graduated when I was 57, and stuck my neck out and said, ‘I can do this.’ And I’m so glad that I did, and had a chance to work with you all. I’ve always told my colleagues that I work with dream trustees, and I mean it. It’s been wonderful.”
In addition to the dedication, Fickett was also gifted a framed photograph of the sculpture, and a photo book of her recent retirement party.
The sculpture will remain permanently on display in the library and is available for viewing by the general public.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.