Sculpture Walk 2008

Just wait until you walk around downtown. There are 15 new sculptures on Broadway between 12th and 10th streets.

I thought last year's was a great group of sculptures. I think this year's is even better.

Uptown Columbus tried mightily to keep all of the new sculptures covered, but as Uptown president Richard Bishop said, some people get curious, especially after a few drinks late at night.

So many of the sculptures' covers were torn away.

The official unveiling was tonight. There were more than 150 people at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, listening to Bishop, Reynolds Bickerstaff and Larry Sanders talk about the importance of public art and the success of last year's Sculpture Walk.

Richard said he was hoping to sell 25 percent of the sculptures, and was very pleased to exceed that goal.

Four sculptures were sold and three are on loan. Columbus Regional Healthcare bought "May Flower," which was the People's Choice and Friends of Uptown bought "Saturday Distraction." Private collectors bought "Garden" and "Gathering of Eagles." Richard said "Gathering of Eagles" will eventually go to the collector's garden, but right now, it's still in the median of Broadway in front of our building.

A fifth sculpture, a gorgeous piece made by children in the Thompson-Pound Art Project, was donated by those kids. It's in front of CB&T's main branch on the corner of 12th Street and Broadway.

On loan are "Potato Man," which is in front of Subway, and "Mickey Watcher," which is in the median on Broadway at 11th Street.

Also still here is "Paddle Wave," which is in the median of Broadway in front of our building. Christopher Fennell built that out of wood that came out of one of the mills that was being renovated.

So we still have eight sculptures from last year and 15 new ones.

I love "Phoenix," created by my old friend Jon Lumpkin. Jon is not old. I've just known him since he was a teenager. It's a huge piece that's on the southwest corner of 10th Street and Broadway. It's spectacular.

Susan Geissler, who did "May Flower," Sherri Treeby who did "Saturday Distraction" and Gregory Johnson, who did "Gathering of Eagles," all have new pieces on display.

They are all very special.

Geissler's "Ma Can I Keep Him?" is a little girl holding a huge cat. She told me earlier today that the model of the little girl is the daughter of the owner of the foundry where she used to get her pieces cast. The cat is her very own Charlie.

Johnson told me the story behind "Fishtale." When he was a little boy, he went fishing with his Uncle Ray. He hooked a huge catfish. Johnson asked his uncle for help, who told him that he hooked it, he reels it in. So he said he turned his back to the pond, put the pole over his shoulder and started walking. He dragged that big fish to the bank, where his uncle took it off the hook and with his knife, pinned the fish in a tree to clean it.

Much later, after his uncle and both parents died, his sister sent a packet of photographs. In the packet was a photo of Johnson with the fish. He couldn't believe that the fish was only about seven inches long.

"Fishtale" is shows Johnson as a little boy. Instead of a catfish, he's holding a large-mouth bass.

Johnson has made statues of his wife, children and neighborhood kids, but the first time he made a statue of himself.

It will be raining tomorrow, but the weather should be good Saturday. Walk around Saturday and check out all the sculptures.

I think you'll like what you see.