Fountain sculpture will celebrate lumber heritage; to be dedicated next May.

FOUNTAIN — Fountain residents Jerry and Shirley Chancellor are leading a local committee which is preparing for the dedication of its sculpture over the Memorial Day weekend in 2016.  This new piece of public art will be located in a highly visible place on a plaza in close proximity to the village’s post office and convenience store.

They have engaged Ruben Llano a New Era artist to create a sculpture commemoration the area’s lumber heritage.  There were several lumber camps in Sherman Township and the sawmill owned by Frank Young began operating near the present site of the village in 1880.  Justus Stearns also owned a large lumber camp near Fountain and all of this lumbering activity took advantage of Lincoln River and Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad. 

Llano has a well-established reputation as a sculptor and painter as his creations have finished in the top 25 in ArtPrize completion the past two years.  Earlier in his career, Llano spent several years sculpting in New York City and he finished creative work on a vaulted ceiling at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. 

This new sculpture will become part of the Mason County Sculpture Trail which celebrates our shared heritage and environment.  The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs has provided considerable funding support for this new addition to the trail.  The Fountain sculpture committee is now launching a campaign to secure the needed remaining funds.