Woodlands Park sculptures get to the heart of the value of public art – BG Independent News – BG Independent News

Posted By: David Dupont September 29, 2022
By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Even before the newest sculpture walk in Perrysburg’s Woodlands Park was fully installed, a youngster walking through the exhibit declared “these are all new.”
All 16 pieces in the Perrysburg Sculpture Walk are new, though people who visited the sculpture walk last year will experience echoes to sculptures displayed in the inaugural exhibit.
Robin Ballmer, of Main ART-ery who coordinates the show, said she wanted new iterations of some of the most popular pieces from the first show. Even during the changeover people were asking: “What did you do with the zebras?”
That was in reference to one of the signature pieces from 2021-2022 created by Mike Sohikian.
The Genoa artist has two pieces in this year’s show – A flamenco dancer and “Metamorphosis.” 
The dancer’s  face in “Flemenco Cactus” is that of Ballmer’ daughter. She did the casting, and Ballmer cast her own hands for the fists.
The figure in “Metamorphosis”  appears unfinished and rotates on a repurposed conveyor device from a Jeep plant. It evokes the artist’s “Autumnus” from 2021-2022.
Both of Sohikian’s works feel organic though they are constructed with salvaged steel and concrete.
Last year’s people’ choice award went to a large red poppy created by Pamela Reithmeier. That blossom has been replaced by a large purple with yellow dots flower.
An award ceremony will be held Saturday afternoon.
Ballmer, who coordinated the show, approached the selection with the same philosophy as last year. She wanted art that appeals both to the aficionado and the novice. Of course, many of the pieces in this show will appeal to both.
Ballmer did not want to leave that to chance. Last year, the selection of the 16 works were determined by a panel of judges.
Based on last year she knew what particularly struck a chord with visitors. So this year, she had a greater hand in the selection. 
She also wanted a range from representational – the statute of Gandhi by James Havens for example – and more abstract works such Robert Garcia’s “Question,” a brilliantly painted enclosure that visitors can step into.
Michigan artists Ken Thompson and Ray Katz each contributed abstract steel forms.
Already, “Mahatma Gandhi Salt March” has attracted attention. Ballmer witnessed several women in saris posing for photos the work soon after it was installed.
Gandhi’s portrait also contrasts with the cartoon-like depiction of the symbol for pi by Chicago artist John Adduci nearby . Whimsy also informs Andrew Arvanetes’ “When a Man’s an Empty Kettle,” the opening line of the song “If I Only Had a Heart” from “The Wizard of Oz.”
Ballmer knew, she wanted an interactive piece, hence the inclusion of “Morning Glory Whispering Bench” by  Jim Gallucci from Greensboro, North Carolina. Inspired by paper cups connected by string, the piece allows visitors to whisper to each other through tubes. Gallucci also provided the “Oak Leaf Arch II.” He created the arch in the previous sculpture walk.
Fitting for the park setting are several environmentally themed works.
Jack Howard-Potter’s “Going Green” has an Atlas-like figure lifting or maybe embracing the earth, both painted in John Deere green.
John Bannon’s “Drop,” suspends a single glass orb in the air where it reflects the sky, changing with the light.
Viewers can also see the pieces illuminated at night. 
On guard are Mark Chatterley’s “Blue Dogs.” The artist modeled ceramic figures  on his own dog. After the dog, Snoopy, died, the figures became larger and larger. These dogs are as large as he can get in his high fired kiln that bakes the pieces so they can withstand the conditions outdoors.
The exhibit offers two contrasting versions of the heart shape. M.L. Duffy from Washington D.C. used computer modeling to fashion a heart from triangles. Inspired by the Black Lives Matters movement, Carrie Fischer, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, created “King of Hearts” a soaring male figure with the contours of a heart.
In person guided tours are available. To schedule a walking tour contact Robin Ballmer, [email protected].
The sculpture walk will be up in Woodlands Park, on the corner of East Boundary Street and East Indiana Avenue, through August 2023.
Arts and Entertainment, Community Voices, Visual art
Arts and Entertainment, Visual art

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