Note From the Editor
Someone told me they thought“ public art” should be made by the public. I like the idea of the public enjoying the art they make themselves. And we have examples of that concept right here in the town of Nashville.
The veterans’ group Elder Heart created a giant leaf sculpture named“ Soaring” with the guidance of artist Jim Connor. The veterans and their families will share that experience with the community for many years to come.
Now a teen group is working on a public art piece called“ All Together,” with the help of Brown County artist Brad Cox. The metal sculpture, a collection of faces, will be installed in the Pat Reilly Parking lot behind Subway and is being made from materials collected from a Bloomington scrap yard.
BETA is the not-for-profit group behind the project. BETA stands for Brown County Enrichment for Teens Association. It provides after school activities for teenagers through the school year and during a June summer camp. BETA received a grant from the Brown County Community Foundation to create a public art sculpture from recycled materials with a local artist.
As a part of the summer camp, the group of teenagers and adult mentors traveled to the Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum in Solsberry, Indiana. Actually, it isn’ t in a town, and is way out in a wooded area owned by artist Gerry Masse. Magic happens every July in the Sculpture Trails when Gerry leads a group of students and teachers in a monthlong iron pour. You can see the results of the pours along the trails. More than a hundred sculptures of various sizes and materials are scattered in the woods.
The second day of camp brought the teenagers to the scrap yard. The teens hunted through piles of items left for dead. Their imaginations got stretched a bit when
they pictured eyes, mouths, noses, ears, and hair from things like grills, gears, and fireplace pokers.
Brad Cox patiently worked with each teen and adult mentor to compose and weld together a face. Some material just couldn’ t be welded, so new things had to be substituted. All the parties involved gained a lot of respect for the amount of work that goes into creating a public art sculpture.
The teens and adults that worked with Brad on the faces will be able to share their efforts with their friends, families, and visitors. They can find their face and say“ I made that.” The sculpture will greet everyone that parks in the lot with a“ Welcome to Brown County.”
— Cindy Steele
July / August 2014 • Our Brown County 13