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Artistry in Every Cardinal
The five-foot tall statues are adorned with the artwork of thirteen local artists, who contributed their time and talent to the project. Each cardinal delightfully expresses a unique theme – some related directly to Marion, while others are simply beautiful and whimsical creations of art.
Bringing Art To Life
To get the project started, a design committee fielded designs from numerous local artists. Thirteen local artists were ultimately selected and pitched in with ideas, supplies, and time to create the cardinal. A 5-foot-tall, reinforced fiberglass figure, the cardinal statues are painted in a variety of colors and themes; some feature local attractions and highlight Marion’s historic landmarks, while others are artistic interpretations.
Featured Details
The Cardinal Art Project: Celebrating Marion's Heritage in Living Color
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Dean Jacob approached Downtown Marion, Inc. about the idea of creating an art piece that could be displayed throughout the downtown area. His vision for this project was the Ohio state bird, the cardinal. The goal was to prominently display seventeen of the birds, symbolizing Ohio as the 17th state in the union. Downtown Marion was delighted to be part of this concept and began to collaborate to come up with a plan to make the concept a reality.
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The project encourages local tourism, with foot traffic increasing as visitors explore the statues. Many businesses report positive interactions with new visitors due to the project’s appeal. The Marion Community Foundation granted significant funding, complemented by local sponsorships.
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Dean approached local artist and sculptor Merle Randolph about making a mold for the bird. Seventeen cardinal statues, each five feet tall, were installed across Marion. They represent themes ranging from Marion’s history and landmarks to creative, artistic interpretations. The project was funded through contributions from local organizations, with substantial support from the Marion Community Foundation.
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Dean Jacob, the project’s visionary, was inspired by seeing public art displays, like Chicago’s famous “Cows on Parade,” and thought, “Why not Marion?” His idea led to the installation of these striking statues, each uniquely painted, bringing art and local pride together in Marion’s public spaces.