Garfield is coming to a town or country near you through a community-sponsored fund-raising project called "Garfield on the Town." To commemorate the comic strip's 25th birthday, 25 groups and organizations have banded together to participate in the project. Four of those are representatives of Ball State.
Arrowhead Plastic Engineering Inc., 2909 S. Hoyt Ave., supplied 25 four-foot, fiberglass sculptures of Garfield. They were delivered and picked up by the groups during in early June. Since then, local artists have been adding their own special touches to each.
Each group was responsible for purchasing supplies to complete its masterpiece. The artists can make Garfield look however they desire. The United Way broke a mirror and glued the tiny pieces all over the sculpture for its "Reflection of Our Community."
"It has been really great dealing with all the different organizations," Jamie Tweedy, a secretary at Arrowhead, said. "It's been really fun."
The College of Fine Arts is working on its version of a "Modern Art Garfield." Several community children involved in a summer art program are painting their sculpture with the help of Michael Prater. The finished product will be on display at the College of Fine Arts.
"Catspearean Garfield - To Eat or not to Eat" is being sponsored by the Department of Theatre and Dance. Kip Shawger, an assistant professor of theater, is the department's artist. He thought this was a good opportunity for the department to gain scholarship money with a minimal investment.
Catspearean is traditionally painted like Garfield and has 3-D materials to create the look of Shakespeare. He wears a dark maroon coat, blue tights and maroon character shoes. He has a mustache and beard and is holding a quill pen.
The theater department selected this theme to celebrate its production of "MacBeth" in mid-July. The finished sculpture will be displayed at the Minnetrista Shakespeare Festival.
Shawger is also working on WIPB's sculpture. It is a tribute to Fred Rogers with its "Garfield Salutes Mister Rogers." He's wearing a light blue sweater, a red-and-black striped tie and sneakers.
"We've had a blast doing it," Shawger said. "It's not often you get to do art like this."
Finally, the alumni office is sponsoring "The Graduate" and it will be displayed in the alumni center.
The finalized Garfield statues will be on display throughout the three-day birthday bash. The statues will be delivered at the Horizon Convention Center, 401 S. High St., Friday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Jim Davis will autograph each of them beginning at 5 p.m., and they will be unveiled to the public at 8 p.m. Visitors will be able to view the creations until Saturday at 5 p.m.
The statues will be sold to the highest bidder. The auction will start locally Friday with silent bids. Muncie residents can continue to make bids on them September through December when they are featured on e-bay. They will be offered internationally. The proceeds will benefit area not-for-profit organizations.
The project was developed by Beth Turcotte, director of the Muncie Center for the Arts.
"It was a non-traditional way to raise funds not only for the Muncie Center for the Arts but for other not-for-profit organizations in the community," she said. "Paws was so generous to give us the rights to do this. It's a huge gift."
Garfield 25th sculpturesp>
*Displayed at noted locations from June 23 through the end of December 2003.
BSU Alumni Center
"The Graduate"
Artist: Tom Farris
Displayed at: Alumni Center
BSU University College of Fine Arts
"Modern Art Garfield"
Artists: Department of Arts Young Artists and Michael Prater
Displayed at: College of Fine Arts
BSU Department of Theatre and Dance
"Catspearean Garfield - To Eat or Not to Eat"
Artist: Kip Shawger
Displayed at: Minnetrista Shakespeare Festival
WIPB
"Garfield Salutes Mister Rogers"
Artist: Kip Shawger
Displayed at: WIPB
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