Friday Sessions

2:30–5 PM

Panel: Reimagining the Erie Canal for Its Third Century

This conversation with Gabrielle Barone, Rebecca Hughes, Dave Mellen, and Charlie Torres—moderated by Shannon Mattern—reflects on the Erie Canal as it enters its third century as a living system that has shaped landscapes and economies across New York State. Together, the speakers will explore how the Canal might be reimagined not only as a feat of engineering, but as a cultural organism that is fluid, adaptive, and continuously remade through collective stewardship.

Within the context of the Medina Triennial, this conversation will consider how infrastructure can become a site of renewal rather than decay. It will also ask: What might it mean to care for a waterway as one cares for a work of art or a community?

This panel follows an earlier session the same day titled Canal Ecologies, led by Scott Rybarczyk and Brian Platt from the New York Power Authority at Medina High School. In that workshop, students will engage in hands-on activities to explore how water is used and managed across the Erie Canal system, developing their own perspectives on how to balance and prioritize the Canal’s limited water resources.

There will be a reception following the panel, offering an opportunity for one-on-one conversations with Gabrielle Barone, Rebecca Hughes, Shannon Mattern, Dave Mellen, Brian Platt, Scott Rybarczyk, and Charlie Torres.

Participant Biographies

Gabrielle Barone is VP of Business Development at the Orleans Economic Development Agency.

Rebecca Hughes is Deputy Director of Canals at the New York Power Authority.

Shannon Mattern is the Director of Creative Research at the Metropolitan New York Library Council. She previously held tenured full professorships in anthropology, art history, and media studies at The New School and the University of Pennsylvania.

Dave Mellen is Regional Manager and SVP of Canals at the New York Power Authority.

Brian Platt is a Senior Project Engineer at the New York Power Authority, supporting the Canal Corporation’s infrastructure and capital programs. Formerly Director of Resilience for Reimagine the Canals, he brings 20 years of experience in water resources, ecological restoration, and civil infrastructure.

Scott Rybarczyk is the Senior Hydrologist for Waterways at the New York Power Authority. In this position, he provides technical support for the Water Management Program and Canal Engineering Services.

Charlie Torres is the Vice President of the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy Board, Executive Director of Hispanos Unidos of Buffalo, and the President of the Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade.