Brockport in Monroe County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Helen Fabi Smagorinsky
Brockport Folk Artist
Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 7, 2026
1. Helen Fabi Smagorinsky Marker
Helen Fabi Smagorinsky
1933 - 2020
Helen was born in Rochester, NY. She graduated from SUNY Brockport in 1955 and is one of five family members from three generations who are Brockport alumni.
Helen became an elementary school teacher, teaching on Long Island, NY, Lansing, MI, and in Hilton, NY. She then had the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom while her children were young, living in a wonderful neighborhood of friends.
By age 50, her third career blossomed. She became a folk artist and was represented by New York City, Rochester, and East coast galleries, as well as being included in numerous books, calendars and magazines. Her paintings appeared in the PBS documentary by Ken Burns titled "Baseball" and have been exhibited in Japan and Switzerland, as well as in England at the American Museum in Bath. Her work has also been shown from the collections at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY; The Smithsonian, Washington, D.C., and at home in Brockport. Her art was included in a very special project with friend and poet Bill Heyen. Bill asked Helen to create very small paintings for cards for which
this page online
Helen resided in Brockport for 62 years where she was active in community and college projects.
(Captions):
A view of Brockport as seen by the artist. "The Victorian Village on the Erie Canal - ©2005 - 24"x60" - acrylic.
"Max's Mardi Gras Parade - ©2000 - 18"x30" - acrylic.
"Homecoming Parade" - ©1998 - 30"x40" - acrylic.
"Summer Serenade" - ©2019 - 9"x12" - acrylic.
"The Seymour Library" - ©1985 - 24"x36" - acrylic.
Erected 2020 by The Art & Aesthetics Committee.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1933.
Location. 43° 12.706′ N, 77° 56.591′ W. Marker is in Brockport, New York, in Monroe County. It is at the intersection of Utica Street and College Street, on the left when traveling north on Utica Street. Marker is located on the north side of the SUNY Brockport Alumni House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 75 College Street, Brockport NY 14420, United States of America.
Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 7, 2026
2. Helen Fabi Smagorinsky Marker
The SUNY Brockport Alumni House is in the background.
Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York, specifically in Western New York, in the Finger Lakes, and in the Rochester Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, on the Great Lakes, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Site Of (a few steps from this marker); Fannie Barrier Williams (within shouting distance of this marker); Mary Jane Holmes (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Monika W. Andrews Children's Park (about 700 feet away); Local Hospitals (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brockport West Side Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); "Putting Veterans First" Department of Veteran Affairs (approx. 0.2 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brockport.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2026, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 14, 2026, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.
