Wittenberg’s Art Park is home to a new rustic metal sculpture that depicts three cranes in flight above a dense stand of cattails.
Installed in May, “Taking Flight” was created by Vic Rouleau. The Holcombe resident makes rustic metal art from recycled materials.
The purchase of this sculpture was made possible from the proceeds of WOW’s (Walls of Wittenberg) Dueling Pianos event that is held every February at the adjacent WOWSPACE, 114 Vinal St., Wittenberg.
All proceeds from the Dueling Pianos fundraiser are always earmarked for the art park.
“The cranes add an additional beauty to the park,” said WOWSPACE’s Elaine Knab.
Rouleau was one of 12 artists who participated in Sculpture Tour Eau Claire 2020.
“I make rustic lawn art, sculptures, flowers, whatever,” he said in a promotional video. “The biggest challenge is finding the right resources. I get an idea, then I have to find all the pieces to make that particular piece come together.”
Rouleau began creating his sculptures about 15 years ago.
“Art has always been one of my favorite things,” he said. “It’s just taken this long to get into it.”
To see more of Rouleau’s art, visit his Facebook page, Vic’s Visions - Rustic Lawn Art.
The Walls of Wittenberg mural project began in 2005, with a spark from Lois Smith, widow of Darwin Smith, CEO of Kimberly-Clark from 1971-91, She lived on a 800-acre farm just outside of the village.
Private contributions and local fund-raising paid for the creation of more than two dozen murals since then.
In addition to the murals, Joe and Kathy Gwidt donated their former drugstore to the Walls of Wittenberg Inc. in 2006. Today, the WOWSPACE is a site for art shows, concerts and community events.
The adjacent Art Park complements the WOWSPACE. In 2010, five new sculptures, all privately funded, were added along with extensive landscaping.
“Taking Flight” is the latest addition to the park.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
New sculpture adorns Art Park
