Fountain sculpture dedication postponed.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

FOUNTAIN — The dedication of a sculpture commemorating the Fountain area’s lumber heritage has been postponed due to the sculpture not being finished. The celebration was originally scheduled for May 28, during the annual Fountain Horse Pull. Shirley Chancellor, one of the sculpture committee members said that artist Ruben Llano of New Era had suffered an injury and was unable to finish the sculpture by that time, though. The celebration was then re-scheduled for June 25 with fliers going out announcing the festivities. However, the sculpture isn’t quite ready. Chancellor said the committee members are excited to see the finished product and want to share the excitement with the community, but that will have to wait. A new date has not yet been set.

This new sculpture will become part of the Mason County Sculpture Trail which celebrates our shared heritage and environment.  It will also be the first sculpture on the trail to be located in the eastern portion of the county. The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs has provided considerable funding support for this new addition to the trail.  Local fundraising has taken four years, Chancellor said.

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.