Patron Installation Gallery

Here are some images that our wonderful patrons have shared with us. We hope that you will enjoy seeing them as much as we enjoy sharing them.

Among the Aspens

The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, in partnership with CODAworx, commissioned Oneida Nation artist and Turtle Clan member Mark Fischer to create a public art installation for the public plaza at the Foundation in downtown Green Bay. Mark, a nationally renowned and award-winning sculptor, shares his mother’s Native American culture, stories, and love of nature through art.

ASPENS ARE COMMUNITY

Mark’s work Among the Aspens includes three copper aspen tree interpretations ranging from 12 to 16 feet tall. They serve as a striking focal point for the Foundation’s public plaza. In celebration of our diverse, interconnected, and collaborative community, Mark incorporated interlocking branches representing generations of individuals supportive hands. In addition, each trunk will be adorned with raised symbols representing the past, present, and future of our community.

SCULPTURE MATERIALS

Each tree begins with hand cutting the raised copper designs and symbols that are welded onto the tree trunks, using oxy/acetylene and hard silver. These raised pieces will be polished to create a smooth mirror surface when touched. The branches will be cut from 3 to 4 inch copper pipe and welded onto the 4 inch tree trunks. Tops of the tree branches will have the familiar heart-shaped aspen leaves welded on and highlighted with a verdigris patina.

The Sustainers

Lake Emily Park contains mound groups on the north, east, and south sides of the lake. To the west on private land there are also several prehistoric dance rings or raised circles and at least one additional mound on elevated ground between Lake Emily and two smaller lakes. There are also features such as prehistoric storage pits and remnants of a village site within the park.

The Sustainers installation, depicting plants regularly grown around Lake Emily 1000 years ago, along with fish from the lake being used both food and fertilizer...speaks to that continued Native presence on the landscape. Although there have been gaps in that presence, this sculpture, at this place long known and utilized by Native people. Within paces of those buried there so long ago...completes and continues that use and reverence for place. The sculpture is also a striking reminder that Native artists, and Native peoples are here, are still connected to this place, and have created something to celebrate and mark this location into the future.

We also wanted to choose a place that was easily accessible, for both Natives and non-Natives. A place where one can either drive by and admire the sculpture, or walk up to, touch, and remember...or imagine...that world, this world, in a long cherished place.

Veggie Bowl prior to patina.