Supporting local arts and culture
The Marshall County Community Foundation (MCCF) and United Way of Marshall County (UWMC) are excited to re-introduce a blueberry sculpture at the new Marshall County Philanthropy Center offices located at 2680 Miller Drive, Plymouth. The sculpture celebrates the unique nature of the partnership between the Community Foundation and United Way in Marshall County.
The new blueberry sculpture with a fresh design replaces one that was severely damaged during the 2018 Marshall County flood and has since been replaced through insurance.
Linda Yoder, Executive Director of the MCCF and UWMC said, “We are proud to be a community sponsor of the Heartland Artists Gallery’s ‘A Bunch of Blueberries’ program. These sculptures bring great beauty and character to our community, allowing local businesses and families the opportunity to celebrate and enjoy public art in a very creative way.”
The blueberry sculptures are part of an “Art on the Streets” initiative that aims to showcase local artists, build community partnerships, and provide lasting fun and artistic value for residents and visitors of Plymouth.
“The art in Marshall County is an important part of what makes our community so unique. It is a way to celebrate who we are,” said Heartland Artists Gallery President Anna Kietzman. “Because it is accessible to nearly anyone, public art can profoundly affect the way we live by providing a sense of place, illuminating local history, spurring community engagement, and increasing economic vitality.”
The blueberry sculpture project kicked off in 2014 after Shelley Heiden, an artist for Heartland Artists Gallery, proposed the idea. Heiden saw the elk sculptures in Elkhart and the apples in Nappanee and thought a similar concept would be an exciting way to celebrate local art. Sixteen blueberries are currently sponsored in and around Plymouth, with an eventual goal of 50 sponsored blueberry sculptures. Current locations include River Park Square, Dairy Queen, and the Plymouth Airport, with a newly sponsored sculpture coming soon to the grounds of Lincoln Junior High School.
For more information on sponsoring a sculpture, please contact the ‘A Bunch of Blueberries’ project coordinator Jon Miller at 574-341-4044, or email jonmillerart@yahoo.com.