Fostoria to be home to 8 new sculptures

Eight sculptures have made their way into Fostoria through the Fostoria Area Visitor's Bureau's participation for a sixth year in the Midwest Sculpture Initiative as a host city. The 2023-24 sculptures arrived in recent weeks to be settled into resting spots for about the next year. Also, one of last year's works, "Outdoor Chimes, Two," will remain in front of the parking lot for Dr. Ryan Kinn's dental practice at 320 N. Main St., through Kinn's purchase of it. "Outdoor Chimes, Two," was sculpted by Kenneth M. Thompson of Blissfield, Michigan. The Ohio Arts Council was a leading donor toward this year's local sculpture project, with funding coming from 14 other sources. "Support for public art is very strong in Fostoria," said Michele Cochran, community development/tourism director of the Fostoria Economic Development Corporation and the Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor's Bureau. "During the first five years we've participated as a host community for the Midwest Sculpture Initiative, the Fostoria Area Visitor's Bureau has received a commission on the sale of nine sculptures, with donations and purchases made for seven of those pieces to remain in our community permanently. "Because some of the locations we've used to place pieces for our temporary exhibits now have a permanent placement, we've installed several of this year's sculptures in new locations around town." This year's eight new sculptures are: "Summerscape with Butterfly," by Robert Georgic, of Belleville, Michigan, in front of the Fostoria Learning Center, 342 Perry St.; "Energetic," by Joel Washing, of Toledo, in front of Kaubisch Memorial Public Library, 205 Perry St.; "Kaleido-Raffe," by Metal Malfeasance, of Rochester Hills, Michigan, in front of the Geary Family YMCA, 154 W. Center St.; "Dancer," by Michael Magnotta, of East Lansing, Michigan, in front of the BANKquet Hall, 125 S. Main St.; "Greater Than," by Pamela Reithmeier, of Monclova Township, in front of the Ray Dell Parking Lot at the intersection of East South Street and South Main Street; "Luna," by Richard Morgan, of Wauseon, at the Fostoria Skate Park on North Vine Street; "Prism Arc K," by Carl Billingsley, of Ayden, North Carolina, at the intersection of West Summit and Countyline streets; and "Every Piece Has a Place," by Alex Mendez of Decatur, Indiana, at the intersection of East Summit and Countyline streets. Funding donors for this year's display, by contribution level, were Platinum Level -- Don and Louise Mennel, The Mennel Milling Company Community Improvement Fund of the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation, Joe and Brenda Stearns; Gold Level -- The Ronald and Evelyn Burns Family Donor Advised Fund of the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation, Ed and Kim Logsdon; Silver Level -- Clouse Construction Corporation, POET Biorefining, The Aaron and Donene Smith Donor Advised Fund of the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation; Bronze Level -- Fostoria Community Arts Council, Amie Hathaway, Danberry Realtors; Ryan S. Kinn, DMD; Sally Reed, Eugene Schalk, Leonard Skonecki. No public funds have been used in the Visitor's Bureau's participation in the Midwest Sculpture Initiative or the purchase of permanent sculptures, the Visitor's Bureau said.