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Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas joined city and community leaders Thursday to welcome the first phase of art installations around the city and a promise of “more the come” for artistic landscape courtesy of the Valparaiso Creative Council.
“Eclipse,” valued at $45,000, was unveiled at the Flounder and Friends Skatepark on Thursday, and it is the 18-foot result of 225 hours of steel crafting by Valparaiso artist Chad Copeland.
“This piece is made of corten steel and therefore it is intended to show rust,” said 37-year-old Copeland, a 2005 graduate of Valparaiso High School.
“The title ‘Eclipse’ was really more of a working name for the sculpture, since it has definitely evolved as work was accomplished over the months.”
In May 2022, Copeland was plucked as the resident artist for an earlier public art display in downtown Valparaiso called “Birds of Paradise,” highlighting 10 of Copeland’s bird sculpture creations depicting native feathered friends from the Hoosier state.
“For the skatepark sculpture, I submitted five possible designs and the one they chose just happened to be my favorite.”
Dedicated skateboard enthusiasts have provided heavy traffic to the $1.9 million Valparaiso skate park since it opened in November 2023. Flounder and Friends Skate Park is named in tribute to the memory of the late skate enthusiast Ray “Flounder” Wampler, who died in a car accident in 1997.
Parks Director Kevin Nuppnau credited the fundraising efforts of the Valparaiso Creative Council for making the new sculpture an added focal point at the skate park.
Costas reminded the Valparaiso Creative Council was formed in 2016 after the city received a $25,000 America’s Best Communities grant.
“The Creative Arts Council is credited with raising the needed funding for this sculpture and there’s more to come, including plans for the downtown area,” Costas said.
“The arts and art are vital for a thriving community.”
Jessica Corral, executive director of the Creative Council, said the matching funds, donors and underwriting sponsors for the sculpture and future art projects are among the key factors for further expansion and art opportunities.
“Without our matching donations to what was the original $45,000 grant, we wouldn’t be here today,” Corral said.
“This is a day that not only celebrates art but also our community.”
Megan Heber of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority of Indianapolis commended how quickly the Valparaiso Creative Council was able to secure matching funds for the $45,000 to raise a total of $90,000 in just a matter of months.
“Knowing about how and where to find grants and state money is so important to communities, and Valparaiso and Jessica and her team are a great example of success for building community support,” Heber said.
Artist Copeland said the plaque mounted in front of the sculpture explains the design of the sculpture and its symbolism.
“The rings of the sculpture embody the spirit of breaking free from limitations,” Copeland said.
“Not only do skaters understand that feeling, we all do.”
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
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Philip Potempa , 2024-06-16 17:51:05
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