This whimsical three-tiered fountain at Berczy Park in downtown Toronto is truly eye-catching with one cat and 27 cast iron dog statues with their eyes aimed at a golden bone at the apex. The fountain sits at the center of the dog-friendly park, complete with an accessible water trough for pets. Each dog statue shoots water into the fountain for an added bit of whimsy.
Clarksville Foundry worked in collaboration with Robinson Iron (Alexander City, Ala.) and renowned landscape architect Claude Cormier (Montréal) on this project. The Foundry cast the fountain’s base and the dog statues. The Robinson Iron team completed the 16 feet in diameter fountain, which also included pug faces as decorative spouts. The standalone dog sculptures were hand-painted prior to installation, which added further color and dimension to the one-of-a-kind fountain.
“This project was unique not only for its animal-inspired design but also for its size and scope,” said Clarksville Foundry President Charles Foust Jr. “The completed fountain weighs in at 26,000 pounds and it is one of the heaviest and widest fountains completed by Robinson Iron. This project came together through the work of many companies, and Clarksville Foundry is proud to be a part of this award-winning public space.”
The fountain was cast, welded and assembled in the U.S., and shipped overland requiring special escort all the way to Canada.
The fountain is already exceedingly popular with urban dwellers and pet owners alike since its installation in 2016, and the park is a popular spot for local families and tourists.
Robinson Iron focuses on the restoration, replication, custom casting, and preservation of ornamental and architectural elements. Clarksville Foundry is a proud partner of Robinson Iron. For another project, the two Family-owned businesses completed together read about this dramatic staircase in Alabama.
Photos provided by Robinson Iron.
Clarksville Foundry recently partnered with award-winning sculptor Vaughn Randall to cast a public art piece to commemorate the grand opening of a new public space in downtown Clarksville.
The sculpture is the first public art piece in the newly opened Downtown Commons. Each individual casting of the sphere mimics the design of the First Presbyterian Church’s rose windows, which overlook the park. Clarksville Foundry reproduced the church’s bell tower windows in 2015 after the original wooden casings were showing significant signs of wear and tear.
The Collaboration
Several months ago, Clarksville Foundry President Charles Foust Jr. saw a sculpture by longtime friend and frequent collaborator Randall, an art professor at the State University of New York-Cortland. It sparked an idea to connect Downtown Commons to the historic architecture surrounding it. First, Randall created sketches and patterns for the piece. In turn, these patterns were then sent to Clarksville Foundry for casting. The resulting ductile iron sphere-shaped sculpture, with a diameter of 8 feet, features 92 individual castings.
“As a longtime supporter of Downtown Clarksville and a parishioner of First Presbyterian Church, I wanted to do something that not only united, but celebrated, these various institutions,” Foust said. “Public art at Downtown Commons was a must, and I knew Vaughn Randall would understand the vision. It’s been exciting to work with him and see the sculpture come together.”
Randall came to Clarksville, along with studio assistant Erin Schiano, to assemble the finished castings into the rust-colored sculpture in the days prior to the unveiling, April 18.
“Erin and I made (similar) 5-foot diameter ball prior to this piece,” Randall said. “I was looking at geometries and seeds … (and) what it is about humanity that makes us build things?”
Downtown Commons serves as a public gathering space equipped for concerts, outdoor festivals and family activities. Randall pointed out the Romanesque style of the First Presbyterian Church circular windows and the many parts it takes to make a whole – a sentiment that has applications in both religion and community life.
“This piece for me is more about the fact that this church appears to be the community center and impetus for this whole park,” Randall said.
The Foundry worked with Vaughn Randall previously to produce “Rosette Bobbin” sculpture, an 8,000-pound ductile iron masterpiece. Reminiscent of a wagon wheel with elements of a church rose window, a replica sits on a 5,000-pound limestone base on Clarksville Foundry’s front lawn. The original sculpture, which featured 26 individual castings from Clarksville Foundry, was installed in August 2006 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
It took roughly two days for Randall and Schiano to assemble the Downtown Commons sculpture, using a system of straps, jacks and levers as the pair methodically bolted together the individual castings.
“What I like about art – sculpture especially – is that every time I build a piece, it’s an adventure to try to figure out how to put it together,” Randall said.
The Naming
Two Rivers Company, a downtown revitalization organization, sponsored a sculpture naming contest. “Window to the World” was the name selected from a pool of more than 40 entries. Submitted by former Presbyterian pastor Robert Lueck, he cited the sculpture’s connection to the house of worship’s windows and what it symbolizes for the community at large.
“The church presence in downtown Clarksville is approaching two centuries, and it has both witnessed and participated in many of the community’s historic events,” said Two Rivers Company Executive Director Norman Quirion, during the name unveiling. “This sculpture embodies the outer vision needed to be responsive to a changing world.”
“Window to the World” was commissioned for Downtown Commons by the Montgomery County Commission and the Public Art Committee.
“This sculpture is a celebration of Downtown Commons and reflects a community coming together,” Foust said. “Supporting the arts has always been an interest of mine, and this piece is meaningful because it does serve as a window to Clarksville – reflecting a rich history and great vision to move forward. Clarksville Foundry has been a part of that history for more than 150 years, and we continue to find meaningful ways to support and enhance our community.”
Clarksville Foundry produces more than industrial “widgets,” as President Charles Foust Jr. refers to the majority of the company’s casting work. In fact, the Foundry is a valuable resource for artists both near and far. From the “Rosette Bobbin” and “Window to the World” sculpted by Vaughn Randall, to “Patterns of Progress” by Tom Malone and others, these pieces blend iron casting and art.
“Most of what we do is just parts, just widgets,” Foust said. “Art – it’s got its own attraction.”
It is this appreciation and advancement of the arts that sets Clarksville Foundry apart from many other businesses. As such, Austin Peay State University’s Center for Excellence for the Creative Arts (CECA) recently awarded the Foundry the 2018 Ovation Award for Business during a ceremony, April 8.
“The Foundry is a part of the historical fabric of Clarksville since 1847 and has made many cast metal works of art that you see around our beautiful city of Clarksville,” said Kimberly Wiggins, CECA Advisory Board member, and local small business owner.
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Arts & Heritage Development Council submitted the Foundry for this prestigious honor because of Foust’s strong support of public art in the community. This support often manifests in different ways, ranging from a sculptor approaching Foust with a project or the Foundry president approaching an artist with an idea.
“From Tom Malone’s ‘Patterns of Progress’ wall sculpture that greets public library patrons, to the massive iron wheel that stands in front of the Foundry, to the 8-foot in diameter sphere that will enhance the Downtown Commons, the Foundry has added to Clarksville’s public art inventory in significant ways,” the nomination reads.
The ceremony recognized eight Ovation Award recipients and featured art and performances by musical, dance and theater groups.
“The art (casting) is just an interest that we have,” Foust said. “I’ve enjoyed working with artists here at the Foundry, because we’ve done that for a number of years. They bring a new perspective.”
Being named an Ovation Award winner is “a real honor,” Foust said. Not only for his family, but also for the Foundry employees, who work together to cast the components for many art pieces.
“Usually I have to deal with engineers and purchasing agents, and they’re normally pretty picky,” Foust said. “So dealing with an artist is a real pleasure. We appreciate the opportunity.”
Jim Diehr, recipient of the 2018 Ovation Award in the Category of Individual Artist, also frequently partners with Clarksville Foundry. Other distinguished artists working with the Foundry through the years include Miranda Herrick, Kit Reuther, Olen Bryant, Alan LeQuire and Mike Andrews, among others.
CECA’s mission is to support and provide opportunities within the creative arts for Austin Peay students, the Clarksville community and the greater middle Tennessee region. The Ovation Awards recognize the dedication of individuals and organizations to building and sustaining arts and culture in Montgomery County.
“The Ovation Awards recognize accomplished artists and organizations that make a difference in our community through the arts, but they’re also meant to inspire young artists to pursue their passion,” said CECA Director Dr. Janice Crews.
Click play below to view the CECA-produced video featuring more about Clarksville Foundry’s support for local arts.
The Safe, Clean and Green (SCG) committee of the Two Rivers Company (TRC) of Clarksville, Tennessee, invites citizens to submit names for the spherical sculpture that will be located at Downtown Commons.
ABOUT THE SCULPTURE: The spherical sculpture is a collaboration between State University of New York College at Cortland professor and sculptor Vaughn Randall and Clarksville Foundry President Charles Foust, Jr. Vaughn Randall first worked with Clarksville Foundry several years ago when he needed help casting components for his piece “Rosette Bobbin,” which won the Samuel B. Barker Outdoor Sculpture Competition at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Clarksville Foundry will donate the castings for the 8 ft. in diameter ductile iron sculpture to be displayed at Downtown Commons. The yet unnamed sculpture will feature a natural rust finish and roughly 92 individual castings that mirror the design of the First Presbyterian Church bell tower windows. First Presbyterian Church is located directly across the street from Downtown Commons, and Clarksville Foundry worked with the church to reproduce their bell tower windows in 2015 after the original wooden casings were showing significant signs of wear and tear.
GUIDELINES: Suggested names should relate to the sculpture design and/or Downtown Commons. Suggested names should be clean and profanity free. The sculpture name could be used in conversation and hashtag posts on social media. The sculpture name should be meaningful and memorable. Only serious names that relate to the sculpture will be considered.
NAME SUBMISSIONS: Suggested names should be submitted as Comments to the contest posting on the Two Rivers Company Facebook page. The Naming Contest post will be pinned to the top of the Two Rivers Company Facebook page. Name submissions posted to Facebook pages other than the Two Rivers Company Facebook page will not be considered. Submissions are limited to one suggested name per Facebook profile.
SUBMISSION LINK: https://www.facebook.com/TRCClarksvilleTN/
Submission must include the following:
a. Suggested Name
b. Supporting Information for the Suggested Name
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Noon on Thursday, March 29, 2018
PROCESS: The Safe, Clean, and Green committee of the Two Rivers Company will vet the name submissions and work with the sculpture artist to determine the winning name.
The winner will be notified through the Two Rivers Company Facebook page prior to the name being publicly announced.
Questions may be emailed or phoned to Deanna McLaughlin at deanna@tworiverscompany.com or 931-245-3700 ext. 12901.
Clarksville Foundry was featured in an online video segment on ClarksvilleNow.com.
The segment produced by Daynnah Carmona features more about the history and day-to-day production process at the family-owned foundry.
Click the play button below to watch the segment.
1140 Red River Street Clarksville, TN 37040 931-647-1538
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