Kicking Off a Sculpture Project in Harbor Country by Barbara Stodola
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THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 26, Number 24 Thursday, June 24, 2010 Kicking Off A Sculpture Project In Harbor Country by Barbara Stodola Robert Cordisco, “Dewey,” New Buffalo Public Library Outside the New Buf- “It is our goal to have falo Public Library, a metal public art placed in each fi gure taller and skinnier of Harbor Country’s eight than a basketball player is communities,” said HCPAI perched on his unicycle – so committee member Arnie engrossed in his book that Feinberg. In Phase 2, the he continues reading at the group will also address same time. The sculpture educational and marketing is the fi rst permanent ac- issues. quisition of a local group HCPAI, formed about a dedicated to public art. It is the work of Florida art- year ago, consists of artist/ gallerists Angela Reichert ist Robert Cordisco, and bears the name “Dewey” and Rick Ott (WOW Gallery, New Buffalo), Roger – a playful reference to the library’s Dewey decimal Harvey (Roger Harvey Gallery), and Linda Hoff- system. hines (9912 Gallery, Union Pier); photographer Tim Seven other outdoor sculptures have just made Rogers, an Addy Award-winner for graphic design; their debut in Phase 1 of the Harbor Country Pub- school teacher Kristin Fatouros; Susan Maroko, a lic Arts Initiative. As The Beacher went to press, New Buffalo city councilwoman; and Feinberg, a re- only the plaques were still to be placed on pieces tired engineer who is vice-chairman of New Buffalo already installed outside New Buffalo and Chikam- Park Board and also president of Harbor Country ing Township halls, and along Chamberlain Path in Trails. The group meets weekly. Three Oaks. Sculpture Continued on Page 2 THE Page 2 June 24, 2010 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.thebeacher.com/ PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by TM Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden 911 Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. Sculpture Continued from Page 1 “No tax dollars were spent on this project,” Reichert pointed out. “With our limited budget ($33,000. for Phase I), we found we could lease sculp- ture for two years, and pay for insurance, transpor- tation, and installation of the work.” All the leased sculptures are for sale. Two large stainless steel pieces have been leased from Bruce Niemi, a successful Kenosha, Wiscon- sin, artist whose sculpture can be seen coast-to- coast, from California to North Carolina. Niemi’s work achieves graceful effects by abstracting from Bruce Niemi, the movements of such fi gural elements as dancers, “The Queen,” fl ames, and sailboats at sea. “The Queen,” 9’7” tall, New Buffalo Township Hall commands the space outside New Buffalo Township Hall. “Tallship II,” the tallest sculpture, at 17’6”, is installed in Three Oaks. Other pieces at the Three Oaks site include Ste- phen Hokanson’s welded steel sculpture, with the intriguing title of “Triamble,” and one of Fritz Ol- sen’s lovely white marble sunfl owers. Both sculp- tors are well-known in the area. Hokanson, a Saw- yer, Michigan, artist, has had work at Purdue North Central’s Odyssey show, and Olsen owns a studio/ gallery in Union Pier. New Buffalo Township Hall also has a sculpture of stone and red-painted steel by Michigan artist Terry Howlett. It is entitled “Eve’s Awareness” and is placed in a naturalistic sand dune setting, where shifting shadows can be observed throughout the day. Outside Chikaming Township Hall in Harbert, Michigan, there are two pieces: Rick Ott’s “New Sunrise,” an aluminum and steel work with an emergent red orb; and Eric Shaw’s glistening “Five Ships.” It was the hope of Shaw’s parents that the Bruce Niemi, sailboat-themed piece be installed near water. The “Tallship II,” sculptor was shot in his Iowa City studio in 1996, at Three Oaks the age of 31, in a tragic and widely-publicized case of mistaken identity. If the installations bear some resemblance to sculpture shows at Purdue North Central, or in St. Joseph, Michigan, this is no coincidence. HCPAI has actively sought the involvement of PNC cura- tor Tom Scarff and Krasl Art Center curator Tami Miller. The Krasl, which owns a large sculpture col- lection, has loaned the Howlett and Shaw pieces to this project; and its art education programs are be- ing adapted for Harbor Country schools. THE June 24, 2010 Page 3 Rick Ott, Steve Hokanson, “New Sunrise,” “Triamble” (det.), Chikaming Township Three Oaks Hall Financial support for HCPAI’s Phase I has come from New Buffalo Business Association, New Buf- falo Community Partnership, Exxon-Mobil Founda- tion, Horizon Bank, and a fund-raising event held earlier this season at Bentwood Tavern. Eighty per cent of the funding was supplied by the Pokagon Fund. Fritz Olsen, “Sunfl ower” (det.), Three Oaks Eric Shaw, “Five Ships,” Chikaming Township Hall The sculptures selected to date evoke the casual, outdoor lifestyle of Harbor Country – its natural- istic landscape, its focus on sports, bicycling, and boating activities. They are attention-getting piec- es, positioned to enhance the artistic reputation al- ready cultivated in the area. Still to come, in future phases of the project, will be installations in Sawyer, Lakeside, Grand Beach and Michiana, Michigan. Pointing out “the profound positive effect of pub- Terry Howlett, “Eve’s Awareness,” New Buffalo Township Hall lic art on tourism,” Feinberg emphasized HCPAI’s goal of helping to establish Harbor Country as a re- PHOTOS COURTESY OF TIM ROGERS gional cultural destination. THE Page 4 June 24, 2010 “The Producers” Opens at Dunes The Tony-winning Broadway hit, Mel Brooks’ ‘The Producers,” opens at the Dunes Summer The- atre on June 25 for three weekends and eight per- formances on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays. This is the fi rst production of this show in the region, and the Dunes is thrilled to open its summer season with this blockbuster musical. up Lennox® “The Producers” stars Darren Serhal as Max Bi- to $1,400 Rebate* alystock, Tony Serra as Leo Bloom, and Christine Widuger as the blonde bombshell Ulla. It features up Tax Renee Gardner as a sexy little old lady, Larry Hink- + to $1,500 Credit** en as ‘Keep it Gay’ director Roger DeBries, Jeff Schmidt as a Storm Trooper, and Nick Thomas as Carmen Ghia, and Brandon Berk as Franz with a Total large cast of dancing girls, dancing little old ladies, $2,900 and who can forget ‘Springtime for Hitler.’ Directed by Bob Cooley with musical direction by Jim Mollin, this show is ‘role-in-the-aisle’ funny and a perfect Between the rebates and way to kick-off the summer. The Dunes Summer Theatre continues its sum- the tax breaks, you’re gonna mer season with “Lend Me A Tenor” opening July 16 and “Evita” opening August 13. The Dunes’ box need a bigger jar. offi ce opens at 1:00 Tuesday – Sunday. The phone number is 219-879-7509 and see the website at www.dunessummertheatre.com for more informa- tion. It is located on Shady Oak Drive in Michiana Shores, just off Highway 12 and Old Grand Beach Road, between Michigan City IN and New Buffalo MI. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays. There will be no performance on July 4. Tickets are $15 and $12 for seniors / students. Kevin Doler— Owner 3123 E Michigan Blvd. Michigan City, IN 46360 219-879-8525 Offer expires 6/30/2010 *Rebate offer is valid only with the purchase of qualifying Lennox products. **See dealer for details and visit www.energystar.gov for more information on the credit guidelines and list of qualifying heating and cooling equipment. © 2010 Lennox Industries Inc. See your participating Lennox dealer for details. Lennox dealers include independently owned and operated businesses. “The Producers” at Dunes Summer Theatre with, l to r, Darren Serhal as Max Bialystock, Christine Widuger as Ulla, and Tony Serra as Leo Bloom THE June 24, 2010 Page 5 Bonnie “B” Meyer 219.874.2000 CONTACT [email protected] to request virtual tours LAKE MICHIGAN LIVING AT ITS FINEST OPEN HOUSE NEW PRICE - $1,950,000 Saturday June 26th • 1-3 PM 1624 Lake Shore Drive, Long Beach A RARE FIND - 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, private beach, astounding views! Directions: Lake Shore Drive to Stop 16 to house 15930 Lake 205 Georgia Avenue, Avenue, Union Pier, Sheridan Michigan Beach 4 bedrooms, 7 3 bedrooms, 3 bath, baths, private Lake beach front, sunset Michigan beach, and Lake Michigan panoramic views, views. tennis court. $1,375,000 $5,000,000 615 Colfax 1528 Lake Avenue, Shore Drive, Sheridan Long Beach Beach 4 bedrooms, 3 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 60’ of Lake baths, 1 or 2 Michigan frontage, lakefront homes, $1,750,000 $1,500,000 Google Lake Michigan Real Estate Call Bonnie B Meyer @ 874-2000 • www.1dwelling.com Each Office Independently Owned & Operated • Equal Housing Opportunity THE Page 6 June 24, 2010 77th Anniversary for Beach Garden Club The Beach Garden Club, founded in 1933, cel- ly completed education center. The center assists in- ebrated its 77th anniversary at a Founders’ Day dividuals in completing their G.E.D. and polishing Luncheon at the Long Beach Country Club on interview skills while pursuing employment and a Thursday, May 27th.