Two New Sculptures Selected for Harrison Park

by Matthew Williams

"Brassia Orchid," one of two new sculptures for Harrison Park

On Saturday, April 23, residents and business owners in the Short North neighborhoods selected two new sculptures to be installed in Harrison Park. Fourteen CCAD students submitted fifteen proposals in the hopes of winning $3,000 and a chance to see their work make a home Columbus’ newest park. Five finalists were presented to the community at the Harrison Park Condos Community Center, and at 8:30 p.m., the two sculptures with the most votes were announced: Hannah Mason-Macklin’s “Brassia Orchid” and Allie Raines’ “Community.”

Of “Brassia Orchid,” Mason-Macklin says, “I wanted to imitate organic shapes that would fit in with all the nature surrounding Harrison Park.” Her sculpture is a literal realist display of the slipper-like orchid cupping a central sphere. Final details remain to be determined, but “Brassia Orchid” will most likely be fabricated from aluminum or stainless steel and then anodized to give it the look of verdigris copper, streaked with color. It will anchor the south end of Harrison Park.

"Community," one of two new sculptures for Harrison Park

Raines’ “Community” is a more whimsical, metaphoric piece. In it, three stylized figures, two adults and a child on one adult’s shoulders, share the task of building a tower of blocks. It is emblematic of the community effort that has gone into rescuing Harrison West from crime and decay and building it into the vibrant, diverse, welcoming, safe community that it is today. Raines describes her sculpture this way: “[The] block shapes are fundamental building structures, three stages representing the growing community in past, present and future, supported by its members through each generation.” The sculpture will most likely be a combination of fiberglass and aluminum and will be installed near Funk-ee-Town, the Harrison Park playground.

Mason-Macklin and Raines will each receive the first portion of their awards at the Short North Foundation’s May meeting. They will then present their designs for final approval to the Columbus Art Commission, after which, fabrication will begin. The artists will receive the second portion of their awards when fabrication is complete. Installation of the sculptures is planned for the fall.

The Harrison Park Art Project has been a competition organized by the Harrison West Society and orchastrated by the HWS Parks Committee and CCAD. The first two sculptures were selected through a community-wide vote in February 2009. Those sculptures, “Sycamore” and “Riparian,” are currently being fabricated and will be installed this summer. Funding for the fabrication of the sculptures is included in the cost of building the park. Funds for the student art awards, however, continue to be raised through private donations and grants. The Short North Foundation has contributed generously to the project, and we offer them, again, our thanks. If you would like to contribute to the Harrison Park Art Fund, send a check, made payable to the “Short North Foundation,” to Short North Foundation / 120 W. Goodale / Columbus, OH 43215. Please note on your check that your donation is for the “Harrison Park Art Fund.”

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