Terre Haute Sculpture to Honor Dreiser
The Dreiser Legacy: Courage in Language and Thought
As many of you know, Terre Haute, Indiana is the birthplace of Theodore Dreiser. Art Spaces, Inc., a leading arts organization in the community has embarked on a project to commemorate Dreiser and his works in a highly visible and most appropriate downtown location: on the grounds of our award-winning public library.
Art Spaces has previously installed unique sculptures to honor locally-born poet Max Ehrmann, as well as Dreiser's brother, composer Paul Dresser. All of these public sculptures are part of a cultural trial honoring renowned writers, musicians and other artists from this once-thriving industrial capitol that is now rebuilding the heart of the city with public art. In total Art Spaces has installed eighteen significant public sculptures in Terre Haute in the past ten years.
A local community foundation recently contributed $20,000 toward the $60,000 needed to create a significant, site-specific sculpture. Art Spaces now seeks $20,000 in individual gifts and anticipates that the final $20,000 will come from corporations and other foundations.
For each sculpture, Art Spaces conducts a rigorous national search to choose the artist best suited for a particular sculpture. For “The Dreiser Legacy: Courage in Language and Thought” three finalists will visit the city to study the site and meet with members of the community to discuss the goals of the project.
Vigo County Public Library has partnered with Art Spaces to select a suitable site and will continue to assist in all aspects of the selection of the artist and installation of the sculpture. The location will be adjacent to the library's north entrance in a site fully accessible, at no charge, to people of all ages. The library receives approximately 385,000 visits per year by patrons, and the adjacent two streets are traveled by a combined 14,000 automobiles per day. In addition, the location is a busy spot for downtown pedestrians. Ultimately, the site will create awareness of the contributions of Dreiser and become a place for thought, conversation and contemplation. As a part of the project, excerpts from Dreiser's writings will be included at the site, and possibly those from writers who were influenced by his works.
Art Spaces regularly engages the community with their sculptures through writing contests as well as programs in the schools and is currently exploring the possibility of a Dreiser symposium in Terre Haute in 2017. Additional information about Dreiser, with links to other sites representing his works, will be posted on both Art Spaces and library websites, which will be accessed on the site electronically.
This year (2016) Indiana celebrates its 200th anniversary. Most notably, the project has already been approved as an official “Indiana Bicentennial Project.”
Art Spaces requests that anyone wishing to help commemorate the life and works of this ground-breaking American author please join the effort by donating today. Your contribution will be fully tax deductible. Pay with a check made payable to Art Spaces and send to 669 Ohio Street. Terre Haute, IN 47807; or go to www.wabashvalleyartspaces.com to pay by credit card or with a PayPal account. For more information contact Mary Kramer, Executive Director of Art Spaces at 812-235-2801. Contributions are welcomed in any amount. Gifts of $500 or higher will be acknowledged in a permanent plaque at the sculpture site.
Art Spaces thanks you for your consideration.
As many of you know, Terre Haute, Indiana is the birthplace of Theodore Dreiser. Art Spaces, Inc., a leading arts organization in the community has embarked on a project to commemorate Dreiser and his works in a highly visible and most appropriate downtown location: on the grounds of our award-winning public library.
Art Spaces has previously installed unique sculptures to honor locally-born poet Max Ehrmann, as well as Dreiser's brother, composer Paul Dresser. All of these public sculptures are part of a cultural trial honoring renowned writers, musicians and other artists from this once-thriving industrial capitol that is now rebuilding the heart of the city with public art. In total Art Spaces has installed eighteen significant public sculptures in Terre Haute in the past ten years.
A local community foundation recently contributed $20,000 toward the $60,000 needed to create a significant, site-specific sculpture. Art Spaces now seeks $20,000 in individual gifts and anticipates that the final $20,000 will come from corporations and other foundations.
For each sculpture, Art Spaces conducts a rigorous national search to choose the artist best suited for a particular sculpture. For “The Dreiser Legacy: Courage in Language and Thought” three finalists will visit the city to study the site and meet with members of the community to discuss the goals of the project.
Vigo County Public Library has partnered with Art Spaces to select a suitable site and will continue to assist in all aspects of the selection of the artist and installation of the sculpture. The location will be adjacent to the library's north entrance in a site fully accessible, at no charge, to people of all ages. The library receives approximately 385,000 visits per year by patrons, and the adjacent two streets are traveled by a combined 14,000 automobiles per day. In addition, the location is a busy spot for downtown pedestrians. Ultimately, the site will create awareness of the contributions of Dreiser and become a place for thought, conversation and contemplation. As a part of the project, excerpts from Dreiser's writings will be included at the site, and possibly those from writers who were influenced by his works.
Art Spaces regularly engages the community with their sculptures through writing contests as well as programs in the schools and is currently exploring the possibility of a Dreiser symposium in Terre Haute in 2017. Additional information about Dreiser, with links to other sites representing his works, will be posted on both Art Spaces and library websites, which will be accessed on the site electronically.
This year (2016) Indiana celebrates its 200th anniversary. Most notably, the project has already been approved as an official “Indiana Bicentennial Project.”
Art Spaces requests that anyone wishing to help commemorate the life and works of this ground-breaking American author please join the effort by donating today. Your contribution will be fully tax deductible. Pay with a check made payable to Art Spaces and send to 669 Ohio Street. Terre Haute, IN 47807; or go to www.wabashvalleyartspaces.com to pay by credit card or with a PayPal account. For more information contact Mary Kramer, Executive Director of Art Spaces at 812-235-2801. Contributions are welcomed in any amount. Gifts of $500 or higher will be acknowledged in a permanent plaque at the sculpture site.
Art Spaces thanks you for your consideration.