Sculptures set up around Sandusky

SANDUSKY — Here's a quick guide, and some insight, when scoping out Sandusky's newest batch of sculptures. Crews recently installed eight pieces as part of Sandusky Library's Lange Trust Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit. Debuting in 2019, this marks the third different set of artwork making up this series. The trust "got such a good response from the community for our first (few) years of presenting the traveling exhibit of public art pieces that we were pleased to be able to host the sculptures again," trust chairwoman Sarah Prout said. New this year, people, with their smartphones, can scan a QR code placed at each sculpture site. An audio clip then appears, allowing people to learn about an individual piece at that particular location. To listen, however, people must download Otocast's free app. "One will hear the actual artist speaking about his/her art, what he/she envisioned, and some of his/her thoughts," Prout said. "The intent is to provide greater insight and understanding from the actual artist." Funds from the trust, and not the library, pay for this exhibition, Prout said. When factoring in installation expenses, each series, such as this newest one, totals about $15,000. Sandusky's government contributes, Prout said, by maintaining the grounds in and around public spaces where these sculptures stand. So what happened to sculptures previously on display? "The Midwest Sculpture Initiative (a group providing the sculptures for Sandusky's initiative) exchanged the new sculptures for the old ones and returned those to the individual artists," Prout said. Placing emphasis on public art Sculptures help fulfill an ongoing citywide public art initiative. With a city-hired firm and a public arts commission, consisting of area volunteers with "creative" backgrounds, they identify opportunities where such visuals make sense to improve certain areas. Those ideas, to date, have come from suggestions expressed by locals at various public meetings. These projects, many of which in the planning stages, include murals, mosaics, illustrations, illumination displays, busts, paintings, photographs and abstract pieces. Scoping out the sculptures their sites and summaries 1. "Icarus" by Mike Sohikian off West Shoreline Drive in the southeast corner of Chesapeake Lofts 2. "Cluster" of Poppies by Jennifer Meyer in the parklet at West Adams Street, Central Avenue and Decatur Street near Sandusky Schools' administrative offices 3. "Red Feather" by Kirk Seese at the Sandusky Library entrance off Columbus Avenue 4. "Ornythopterus" by John Parker at West Park off Columbus Avenue and West Monroe Street 5. "Pier Work" by Mark Beltchenko at East Park off Columbus Avenue and East Monroe Street 6. "Homage to Matisse II" by Mike Sohikian at Huron Park by CVS Pharmacy 7. "Tri-Comet" by Carl Billingsly in the parklet on East Adams Street, Hancock Street and Huron Avenue 8. "Madam Butterfly" by Mike Sohikian in Dauch Park on Huron Avenue and Wayne Street