Sculpture Garden opens in Clinton thanks to students' metal art

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

Thursday, April 4, witnessed Clinton in a whirlwind of excitement as it officially unveiled the much-anticipated Student Sculpture Garden at Millennium Park. Despite drizzly weather conditions, the afternoon launch drew a sizable crowd, highlighting the community’s commitment to nurturing youth talent and creativity.

 

The project, honoured with the “Rural Excellency Award” from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO), showcases original metal sculptures by local students, serving as both artistic landmarks and symbols of youth creativity and community spirit.

 

“We made the ducks and the cattails,” said Tanner Brooks, a Grade 11 student from Central Huron Secondary School, reflecting his team’s innovative approach. “We thought it was something unique that hasn’t been done.”

 

Grade 12 students Deagan Keats and Tristan Dietrich from Listowel District Secondary School shared insights into sculpting a jellyfish, noting its evolution and room for improvement. “We did some tweaks on it from the original plan,” explained Dietrich. “The sculpture portion at the top was just flat metal, so we added little holes in it to add more character,” he elaborated.
Grade 11 student, Laura van Nes from St. Anne’s Catholic School, discussed creating a flower sculpture. “It’s alright,” she commented on the finished product, hinting at further improvements needed to meet her personal level of satisfaction.
Central Huron Community Improvement Co-ordinator Angela Smith, the driving force behind the initiative, emphasized the project’s significance. “Clinton didn’t have any sculptures. So, I thought we have two high schools with welding classes - maybe they could make some sculptures. As with any idea, it just kept growing and growing and growing,” she shared. The scope of the project expanded to include other schools in the Avon Maitland District School Board and the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board.

 

Limited budget availability for materials required Smith to find alternative sources of funding. “I went to Huron County Economic Development and applied for a grant. So I got a [Supporting Local Economic Development] grant. I went to Huron Manufacturing Association and their members and they kicked in money…I was able to go back and offer every school $500 for supplies and then they were asked to create a sculpture. In the end, we have an entire public art exhibit made entirely by students, while training them for actual post-secondary jobs.”

 

Smith continued, “On top of that, we’ve had professional lighting installed that is computerized. So [the sculptures] will be lit up in the same colours as important buildings are across the country. For example, last weekend, the military asked all buildings across the country that are lit up to change their colours to blue. So, the CN Tower, Niagara Falls - the big spots - were all asked to light up in blue. Well, here in Clinton we got asked to also light up in blue. We’ve gotten on the radar of these large celebrations. Every time there is a large national celebration, these sculptures that these kids made will be lit up in those colours as a landmark as much as the CN Tower.”

 

Impressed by the efforts of the young sculptors, Smith beamed. “The results are incredible. The students were asked to create a metal sculpture. There were no guidelines around it at all. It was left up to their creativity. As you can see, every one of them is completely different, very unique. Some of them are recycled materials - the jellyfish, for example, is made out of bicycle parts. I think we’ve got an incredible public display.”

 

Smith is hopeful that the initiative may continue to evolve. “I’m working on a little project to possibly animate these sculptures, so I’ll keep you posted.”

 

Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn commended the students’ efforts, acknowledging the skill and dedication required. “It’s always impressive to see what some of our young people can do,” he remarked. “A lot of work goes into it - quite a skill set! The fact that you can display public art in a form that’s going to last for years and years and years, I think is a real tribute,” he added, praising the enduring nature of the sculptures.

 

Huron-Bruce Member of Parliament Ben Lobb commented on the project’s role in showcasing students’ potential in the trades. “There’s a lot of talent here and they are great little designs,” he noted, highlighting the importance of practical skills in complementing classroom learning. “Public art is a reflection of the individual, it’s a reflection of the community and, in a way, it’s also a reflection of the time, the era, that you’re going through,” he elaborated, linking the project to broader societal themes.
Smith summed up the importance of projects like the Student Sculpture Garden. “We just need to train these kids and make them aware that they can stay [in Huron and Perth Counties] and have these incredible careers.”

 

The culmination of the event saw the students involved in the project gather to officially unveil their work to the public. Amidst the backdrop of their creations, they ceremoniously cut a red ribbon, symbolizing the grand opening of the Student Sculpture Garden. This moment not only marked the fruition of months of hard work but also signified the beginning of a new chapter in Clinton's artistic landscape.