“Squirrelinsky”
Artist: Kristina Giunta Faulkner
Sponsor: Park Centre Development

In the Artists words:

Squirrelinsky- (nickname) "Yellowtail" *Modern Art , is my main influence in all my art. Even though in the art world "Modern Art" isn't really "modern" any more. The 20th century was the era of "Modern Art". The inspiration for my Art Squirrel was Wassily Kandinsky, he was Russian born (1866-1944) and was one of the most influential artists in the development of "Abstract Art" he turned down a professorship in law to become a painter. - His influences were : Fauvism -a French art movement, characterized by their vivid use of contrast colors, also Surrealism - an art style of a dream like quality; an expression of the sub-conscious.

Bio:

Squirrelinsky is Kristina Faulkner’s third "street sculpture". The first was the "Bear Affair" program for Warren, PA. The second was the "Leap Frog" program "Jeremiah" for the Veterans Administration in Erie, PA. Kristina has two studio locations: "Star Studio" in Warren, PA. and Star Studio north, at her residence in Jamestown, NY, where she creates most of her paintings and installation works. She also give adult and children's classes there. Kristina lives for art and she stays true to the "modern art" style. One of the main reasons Kristina produced this squirrel for Olean, was to pay a tribute to her father, Dr. James D. Giunta who was a graduate from the first class of Saint Bonaventure when they opened to the public in the early 1930's ; and to honor the rest of her family residing in Olean, the Giuntas.