Gigi Janko constructed the art piece she previously described as a longitudinal structure from structures destroyed by fire at 103 11th St. and 1021 Riverside Ave. She also owns the former Immaculate Conception Church which she used as her personal studio space.

The structure has been a source of contention for many Wellsville residents who have voiced their concerns over its aesthetics and safety risks multiple times during Wellsville Village Council meetings.

Mayor Bob Boley and council members have been working for some time to find a way to have the structure removed and threatened legal action against Janko — who relocated to Rhode Island to attend college — if she did not tear down the structure viewed by many as a hazardous eyesore.

Janko arrived back in Wellsville and started working to demolish the structure last week. She is doing the work on her own and plans to have it leveled by the time she returns to Rhode Island in September.

The Structures, destroyed by fire and then turned into a controversial sculpture in Wellsville, is currently being deconstructed by the artist, Gigi Janko. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Boley, who said he has no comment at the current time regarding the matter, did note that the only agreement was that if she tore it down, the village wouldn’t take legal action against her.

Janko said as far as future plans for the property, she doesn’t know what will happen with it beyond it being leveled.

She said the former church is still a studio.

“I would love to keep art in the area and bring in other forms of public art,” Janko said. “The reception for this has been very mixed, but I hope that maybe if other artists have a chance to put work up or other types of art, maybe different pieces will have different responses. So, I’m hoping to keep an art presence here no matter what.”

Janko said that while the former church is currently her studio space, she is considering starting a residency program of some sort that will allow other artists to come in. She is slowly building a network of connections at school and believes a residency would be a great opportunity for artists and the village.

The Structures, destroyed by fire and then turned into a controversial sculpture in Wellsville, is currently being deconstructed by the artist, Gigi Janko. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

“I would like to apologize to the people who have been troubled in some way by what I’ve done,” Janko said. “It was never my intention for this to be so divisive, and I hope in some form of the gestures that come forth to repair people’s relationship to art and to recognize that it doesn’t have to be like this.”