City of Bloomington Unveils B-Line Trail's Signature Art Piece

[Dale Enochs' sculpture: Bloomington Banquet|thumbnail:5450,left][Mayor Mark Kruzan speaks at the Bloomington Banquet dedication ceremony|thumbnail:5451,left][Dale Enochs jokes with employees from Hoffman Design Works|thumbnail:5453,left]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 7, 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 - More than 100 people joined City of Bloomington officials at Shower's Plaza Thursday evening for the unveiling of the B-Line's signature art piece, a limestone sculpture entitled Bloomington Banquet, created by local artist Dale Enochs.

Members of the public had the opportunity to meet Enochs, walk around and under the piece, and explore the many intricacies and details that are woven into the limestone. The Bloomington Chamber Singers kicked off the festivities, which included remarks by Mayor Mark Kruzan, City Council member Susan Sandberg, City of Bloomington Community Arts Commission Chairwoman (BCAC) Lynn Schwartzberg, and the artist himself.

[Local sculptor Dale Enochs and BCAC Chairwoman Lynn Schwartzberg at the dedication|thumbnail:5452,right]

The lively crowd included residents, arts supporters, City staff, individuals involved in the project's completion, passers-by stopping to soak in the view of the sculpture and employees from Hoffman Design Works, who sported replicas of the Monroe County Courthouse fish on blue construction helmets. Hoffman, a local firm, was responsible for the fabrication of the fish weathervane atop Bloomington Banquet.

The sculpture features a table and chairs made of Indiana limestone and an eclectic place setting made of plate steel, stainless steel and anodized aluminum. The weathervane, a modern homage to the one topping the Monroe County Courthouse, seems to be jumping out of an intricately sculptured bowl atop the table and extends the height of the entire piece to 23 feet.

Bloomington Banquet was chosen by a five-member selection panel from three final proposals in a process administered by the BCAC. 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 and Recreation Department.