3 Must-See Public Art Installations in the Heart of Ohio
If you’re looking to add a bit of culture to your next weekend getaway, be sure to stop in Dublin, Ohio. The town, known for its “Irish is an Attitude” persona, is home to more than 70 pieces of public art! You can take a cell phone tour of the entire collection courtesy of the Dublin Art in Public Places program or just keep your eyes peeled as you’re checking out the parks and historic downtown or traveling to the zoo – in Dublin, you’re truly surrounded by art. To give you an idea of the type of artwork that awaits you, below are three must-see installations found around Dublin:
The first piece of public art in Dublin, Leatherlips is a unique, 12-foot high stone portrait of Wyandot Native American Chief Leatherlips, which can be found in Scioto Park. Legend has it that Chief Leatherlips was executed by fellow tribesman very near the location of the present day park. This imposing sculpture is open at the top and has stones that run along the side of it, creating a cave-like structure where you can sit and watch the river or kids can use for a good game of hide-and-seek.
You can’t miss Field of Corn along Franz Road. The installation consists of more than a hundred ears of corn standing upright in formation. That might not sound that interesting, but when you consider that the ears of corn are as tall, if not taller, than most people, you’ll take note! The installation is a nod to Dublin’s history as a farming community and is a favorite spot among locals. In fact, it’s received “Best of Columbus” by readers of Columbus Monthly magazine each year of its nomination since 2008.
Look up while visiting Coffman Park or you might miss these whimsical sculptures! Exuvia consists of life-like gold sculptures of men climbing high in the trees of the park. Here’s the scoop on this one: While studying fine arts in college, artist Todd C. Smith became fascinated climbing trees, and sharing the world-from-the-trees perspective in his artwork. Since graduating, Smith has climbed a tree everyday and continues to create artwork inspired by this principle. To create the men in trees exhibition on display in Dublin, Smith was wrapped in cellophane and packing tape to create a cast, which was covered in fiberglass cloth and resin to form molds of his body in different positions climbing trees. This exhibition illustrates the whimsy and human connection to outdoor recreational spaces. On your next trip, try to spot all four of the men in trees at Coffman!
On your next weekend getaway, be sure to stop and see the art that surrounds you in Dublin. Get more insider tips on how to live like a local on your next trip at SoDublin.IrishisanAttitude.com.
For more on Dublin's public art pieces, click here.