Remembering Paul Deery

Lafayette College Professor Ben Cohen and another visitor explore the stone installation called Water Way created by artist Paul Deery on the Karl Stirner Arts Trail in Easton, Pennsylvania.

The Karl Stirner Arts Trail honors the memory of KSAT artist Paul Deery. Paul created Water Way (pictured above), the first site-specific work on the trail.

Paul is the essence of what every small community loves in its residents: He was well loved, gentle, friendly, and excited by life. He shared so much, so openly: his joy and pride in his wife and sons; his sheer happiness and passion for wind, water, and sailing; his frequent self-challenges, be it a triathlon, a polar plunge, or a skydive.
 
He excelled in his livelihood as a professional landscaper, artistically shaping earth, plants, trees, and rocks on main streets and side streets throughout his community. He advocated for his employees, assuring living wages and the best working conditions.
 
On the arts trail, Paul the artist created a graceful sculpture. Water Way celebrates the movement of the Bushkill Creek, suggesting the path that ducks and insects and drops of water would travel with trees on either side and the sky and clouds above. Paul’s artistic mind  and hands are forever with us, inviting us to explore and play in his sculpture, guided by the water, earth, rocks, air, clouds, and sky he loved.
 
His presence deeply touched every part of our community, and his absence will be felt profoundly in our Easton family for many years to come.
 

— Monica Seligmann, Board Chair; Jim Toia, Executive Director and Curator; and the KSAT family

View more of Paul’s art on his website.

Paul Deery stands at his stone Water Way installation and talks on the Karl Stirner Arts Trail in Easton, Pennsylvania.