"The Greatest Manufacturing City of its Size in the World" was one description of Hamilton, Ohio, at the turn of the 20th cent

Hamilton, Ohio, City of Sculpture, Inc.

One High Street, PO Box 545

Hamilton! OH 45011

(513) 895-3934

hamiltonohiocityofsculpture@fuse.net

www.cityofsculpture.org

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 30, 2004

City of Sculpture Enhances Public Spaces through Art

Creates Cultural Destination in Hamilton, OH

Hamilton, Ohio, City of Sculpture, Inc. (COS), was established in September of 2000, as an organization consisting of 12 volunteer board members with a mission to “promote the recognition of Hamilton, Ohio, as a cultural community through obtaining sculptures to be placed in public places for the enjoyment of citizens and visitors”. Since then, COS has grown into what is now fully functional organization governed entirely by the volunteer Board of Trustees. COS now boasts the addition of 15 new sculptures that have been placed in downtown and other areas of Hamilton through collaboration with or encouragement by the City of Sculpture team. The additional planning for 4 more sculptures is currently underway. These pieces will bring the total public sculpture to more than 30 in Hamilton, which is a city of 62,000 people. Today, a countless number of community members devote an equal number of hours to the development of the COS mission and planning of events. According to Mike Dingeldein, a local architect who sits on the City of Sculpture Board of Trustees, “People are catching on to the idea of changing the future of our city, which once was known for its manufacturing base. People feel they can make an impact both economically and socially for Hamilton through a relationship with the arts. Ultimately, we hope to begin to attract a new economic base through arts related activities.”

"The Greatest Manufacturing City of its Size in the World" was one description of Hamilton, Ohio, at the turn of the 20^th century. Hamilton's world-class credentials weren't the creation of an imaginative promoter. They were legitimate, the product of powerful elements. Bold entrepreneurs and visionary civic leaders pushed Hamilton to the forefront of transportation with bridges, canals, and railroads, and developed utilities. Among the legacies of Hamilton's success is an accessible assortment of architectural and historic treasures. Hamiltonians, proud of their history, have preserved and polished structures, which represent a cross section of the city's cultural and economic past. Today, three compact historic districts, plus scenic downtown Hamilton, showcase a variety of homes and buildings.

In 1984, Hamilton businessman, Harry T. Wilks, acquired the core 40-acre property that has become Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park. Pyramid Hill is now a 265-acre sculpture park and out door museum that combines the lure of nature with the dynamic presence of more than 30 pieces of monumental sculpture. One of only three such facilities of its scale in the United States, Pyramid Hill is a setting where landscape and art come together in natural galleries.

On August 16, 2000, Hamilton received Governor Bob Taft's recognition as "The City of Sculpture". This sparked a vision for a group of community members who officially formed Hamilton, Ohio, City of Sculpture, Inc. Within months of Governor Taft's recognition as "The City of Sculpture", a full Board of Trustees was established. Other organizations are becoming increasingly energized through this vision, as is substantiated through the growth in number of public sculptures to be seen in Hamilton and also throughout Butler County. www.cityofsculpture.org/about.html

The growth of this group since that date in 2000 has been quite amazing, and the support it has received from government officials has been remarkable. COS has worked together with politicians, city personnel, corporate executives, local educators, and many others to continuously mold a vision for their city. The COS team becomes more resourceful daily. Major accomplishments of the group include the creation of an artist-in-residence program within a warehouse in Hamilton’s German Village, the development of an annual IceFest that draws 20,000 people downtown with a one day/two night ice sculpture event, the rehabilitation of a historic structure that is now used for COS office space, the addition of more than 15 new public sculptures in outdoor locations, including the upcoming Alexander Hamilton “American Cape” in honor of the city’s namesake, and the most recent activity … bringing the J. Seward Johnson traveling exhibition to Hamilton for three months in 2004. All of these activities were accomplished through donations and fundraising efforts of the COS volunteer organization within the Hamilton community. Mayor Donald V. Ryan, of the City of Hamilton, declares, “On behalf of Hamilton City Council and the entire community, we salute the City of Sculpture board members and the countless other volunteers who donate their valuable time and resources to ensure the success of their vision for our city."

Hamilton's City of Sculpture Artist-in-Residence Program is a ground-level program with goals that include education of both adults and youth in schools and elsewhere. In the future, long-term goals would include several artists working together within the program with resources such as stainless steel, aluminum, sheet metal, ferrous metal, copper, brass, and glass, rock, fiber, and granite. This program can be a catalyst for our quaint shopping districts to attract galleries for local residents and visitors. In the heart of Downtown Hamilton and the German Village Historic Neighborhood, a Cincinnati Sculptor, Dennis Baker, has become the first Artist-in-Residence for the COS organization. Neil Cohen of Hamilton Scrap Processors has donated a 30'x30' open warehouse space with full window natural lighting at his business location of 134 Hensel Place along with equipment that can be utilized for the sculptor. Mr. Cohen's business location is a working scrap-metal recycling and processing yard with access to ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal. When asked why he donated the space for this project, Mr. Cohen responded, "I love art and sculpture, particularly metal sculpture. As a third generation in the scrap business, I've always had dreams of doing this myself. So, I'm living vicariously through this sculptor while also helping our community.”

An example of the growth of the City of Sculpture concept was the Leadership Hamilton Class 9 project. Class 9 worked with art teachers of secondary schools in Hamilton to help students develop the sculptures, which were on display at Fitton Center for Creative Arts 2001. According to John Fabelo, member of Class 9, "We chose this project because it piggybacked with something going on in the city. This project tied us in with education, art, and the City of Sculpture." http://www.cityofsculpture.org/airOther.html

Locations for sculpture encouraged or commissioned by COS include a public golf course, the Great Miami riverbank, a local baseball little league park, and on the grounds of churches, a local hospital, and the city’s public high school. Funds have been raised by groups such as police, fire, historic organizations, churches, or simply through private donations of individuals who believe in the COS vision. Sculptures such as Nancy Schon’s “Lentil” have been placed in honor of citizens such as native Hamiltonian Robert McCloskey, an award-winning author of children’s books including “Make Way For Ducklings” and “Homer Price”. The work of Rosalind Cook, "Someday," in memory of Bill Wolf, who was a well-known Hamilton philanthropist instrumental in establishing the Hamilton Community Foundation, was donated to the city by his wife. According to Gerry Hammond, the first President of COS, “After forming our organization and initiating our vision for the community, individuals began calling me to ask what it would cost if they wanted to buy a piece of sculpture for the city,” she said. “That’s exactly what we wanted.” With the addition of several pieces abstract sculpture, including “Star Formation” by COS artist-in-residence Dennis Baker, the City of Sculpture is creating a great mix for public art in Hamilton.

Through the development of a website www.cityofsculpture.org and other printed material, COS has encouraged participation and donations that highlight improvements for the Hamilton community. This program involves community education with public art placed on carefully chosen public sites. Donations help enhance community image, build pride, and beautify public spaces, while also helping to offer a venue for a professional artist to expand capabilities. According to Debra Fescina Rulon of the Greater Hamilton Convention & Visitors Bureau, “City of Sculpture offers a national and unique presence for Hamilton. Cultural tourism benefits the community both socially and economically, and through education affects each of us personally. The COS group has successfully achieved distinct recognition for Hamilton as an arts community in a few short years and has also effectively spread the enthusiasm to the numerous citizens and business men or women who are now a part of its vision.”

Industry comes and goes, but art is forever. Trudy Marcum, President of COS, asserts, “Through the City of Sculpture, community members have the opportunity to create a legacy for our city. Being a part of the COS team and working with the countless volunteers has been most rewarding. Through the COS vision, I feel we are transforming our city into a cultural center to be enjoyed by community members and visitor alike.”

Contact Information: www.cityofsculpture.org

Trudy Marcum, City of Sculpture President

513-895-3934 or hamiltonohiocityofsculpture@fuse.net

Mike Dingeldein, Architect

513-863-5441 or mdingeldein@shpinc.com

Gerry Hammond, City of Sculpture

513-895-3934 or gahammond@shpinc.com

Debra Fescina Rulon, Hamilton CVB

513-844-8080 or debbie@hamilton-cvb.com

Media release prepared by:

Greater Hamilton Convention & Visitors Bureau

Debra Fescina Rulon, Executive Director

One Riverfront Plaza, Hamilton! OH 45011

513-844-8080 or Toll Free 1-800-311-5353

Fax: 513-785-4062

debbie@hamilton-cvb.com