City of Bloomington Hosts Dedication Event for Bloomington Banquet

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2009

For more information, please contact:
Miah Michaelsen, Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts, City of Bloomington, 349-3534
Danny Lopez, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-CITY, lopezd@bloomington.in.gov




Bloomington, IN -The City of Bloomington Community Arts Commission (BCAC) will host a dedication event for the B-Line Trail's signature sculpture Bloomington Banquet on Thursday, Aug. 6, at 7 p.m. on the Farmers' Market Plaza behind City Hall at 401 N. Morton Street.

The sculpture, crafted by Bloomington artist Dale Enochs, features a table and chairs made of Indiana limestone and an eclectic place setting made of plate steel, stainless steel, and anodized aluminum. The sculpture will be topped by a fish weathervane, a reference to the one topping the Monroe County Courthouse.

"Bloomington Banquet incorporates both physical and character elements from the community in its design, such as the site's proximity to City Hall and the former Showers Brothers Furniture Factory, the City of Bloomington's Community Farmers' Market and the annual Taste of Bloomington festival," Enochs said. "Bloomington is also recognized for its openness and pervasive spirit of generosity, and the design references the community's bounty of cultural opportunities."

In all, the piece measures 23 feet at its highest point and weighs 75,000 lbs., with the table and chairs designed so trail users can pass underneath to more closely view intricate carving adorning the lower sections of the sculpture.

Bloomington Banquet was chosen by a five-member selection panel from three final proposals in a process administered by the Community Arts Commission. The project was funded through the Percentage for the Arts program, with additional support provided by the City of Bloomington's Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD) and Parks & Recreation Department.

The dedication celebration will begin at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Speakers will include Enochs, Mayor Mark Kruzan, Bloomington City Council Member Susan Sandberg, BCAC Chairperson Lynn Schwartzberg. Music will be provided by the Bloomington Chamber Singers and the Musical Arts Youth Orchestra (MAYO), two organizations funded by the BCAC.

For more information, please contact Miah Michaelsen, the City's Assistant Director of Economic and Sustainable Development for the Arts, at 349-3534 or michaelm@bloomington.in.gov.

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