June 10, 2009
UWSP students create sculpture for The Pineries Bank
A new sculpture based on the community slogan, “The Gateway to the Pineries,” will stand in front of
The Pineries Bank in Stevens Point due to the efforts of an Art and Design Department class at the
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Located at 3601 Main Street, the work was designed by students enrolled in Art 398-Public Sculpture course,
offered for the first time this spring. Their instructor, Associate Lecturer Bill McKee, collaborated on the
idea with The Pineries Bank President Paul Adamski. In return, Adamski and the bank’s board of directors
have created an endowment to provide UWSP art student scholarships.
“We hope this sculpture will emphasize how important the communities we serve are to our bank,” said
Adamski. “We are excited about the perpetual scholarships that will be generated for the benefit of UWSP
art students at the unveiling of this project.”
A 10-12 foot metal and wood sculpture that depicts outstretched wings, “Ascension” is being built with
local services and materials of historical content. The design includes reclaimed hemlock timbers from
the floor of the former Lullaby Factory and fieldstones from the farms of Fran and Dan Zaborowski in Polonia
and the Henrietta Hintz farm in Rosholt. Both of these families have daughters who are officers at the
bank.
Local craftspeople assisted with the work, including Dan Michor and Joe Thorn of Metal Crafters, Juda Haas
of Alchemy Concrete, Jay Goska of Powder Coating Specialists, engineer Troy Hanson of Merrill, County
Concrete, Gimme Shelter Construction, Home Team Décor, Dennis Bauer Sandblasting.
“This has given the students some real world experience,” said McKee. “There’s been a push to make more
connections to the community and this is a fine example of how that can work.” He added that this kind of
course could be offered again to place more sculpture in the Stevens Point area.
Students in the course, listed by hometown, include:
Appleton — Shannon Piette, freshman biology major, graduate of Freedom High School
Custer — Douglas Somers, art major, graduate of Stevens Point Area Senior High School
Merrill — Matthew Piepenbrok, senior art (2D) major, graduate of Merrill Senior High School
Rhinelander — Kandra Shefchik, senior art (3D) major, graduate of Rhinelander High School
Stevens Point — Michael Butcher, senior graphic design major
Stevens Point — Todd Hebal, junior art major, graduate of Stevens Point Area Senior High School
Stevens Point — Stephanie Jones, sophomore art (3D) major, graduate of Wausau East High School
Stevens Point — Justin Young, sophomore graphic design major, graduate of Stevens Point Area Senior High School
Stevens Point — Matt Lison, senior art (3D) major
Waupaca — Christina Wardall, sophomore graphic design major, graduate of Waupaca High School
Eagan, Minn. — Chelsea Fuller, senior graphic design major
Eagan, Minn. — Amber Fuller, senior graphic design major
