If all goes according to plan, the street corners of downtown St. Joseph will be transformed into a “Magical Kingdom” replete with fiery dragons and knights on their steeds thanks to the city’s annual public art project next summer.
St. Joseph City Commissioners will be presented with a $75,000 budget to create and market their 15th Annual Public Art project which is slated to become “The Magical Kingdom of St. Joseph.” If approved, the budget will fund the acquisition of 14 fiberglass pieces and the full marketing strategy plan for the colorful affair.
St. Joseph City Communications Director Susan Solon, who is responsible for the project each year, will present to the city Monday night and unveil a sample piece or two from the collection in her PowerPoint presentation. The proposed contract with the Chicago Fiberglass Works calls for creation of 2 distinct designs and 14 total fiberglass castings including 7 knights on horses and 7 dragons, all based on images provided to the Fiberglass Works team by Susan Solon.
All 14 of the sculpted characters would be delivered to the City of St. Joseph by February 1st for distribution to local artists who will then customize them for placement on street corners ahead of the Memorial Day weekend in 2018 and maintained there until the annual Fall Festival and live auction that would then help fund the project for the 2019 season.
The public art project has become a summer staple for visitors and residents alike, and the pieces become the focal point of thousands of selfies and other photo and video captures with kids and adults of all ages.
From the first year’s carousel horses to lighthouses, from pirates to barnyard animals, from planes, trains and automobiles to beach bugs the public art has been well received by the retail community who view it as a major destination-style attraction that visiting families and hometown fans have come to expect over the past 14 years in the city.
A draft contract has been drawn up between the city and Chicago Fiberglass Works, and it would have the city paying the Chicago firm $13,650 upon signing and the balance of $9,100 “upon satisfactory delivery of all undamaged castings.”
The city has enjoyed a long and successful run with Chicago Fiberglass Works, a company that has created pieces for worldwide distribution for many years.
The actual design for each mounted knight and dragon will be unveiled at the St. Joseph City Commission meeting on Monday night. The photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market.com is courtesy of Chicago Fiberglass Works and shows another art project inside their studios in the Windy City.
