After five years of work, the Minnetrista Cultural Center will unveil the 26-foot memorial sculpture to Edmund Ball, Catalyst, during a celebration at 5:30 tonight.
The dedication of the sculpture, which will be free and open to the public, will include activities for families, free ice cream, bluegrass music, and free admission to other exhibits on display at Minnetrista.
Catalyst was made from limestone, stainless steel and dicroich glass and was created by artist Beverly Stucker Precious of Precious Design Studios in Indianapolis.
Minnetrista Communications specialist Jessica Myrick said that when work on Catalyst began several years ago, it was a gift from Virginia Ball in honor of her late husband Edmund Ball. Now, it is a memorial to honor both Virginia and Edmund Ball.
The site of the sculpture is an easy-to-spot open area in front of the Minnetrista center.
"Originally when the center was built, there was always a planned spot for a large piece of art," Myrick said. "We just needed to find something to put there. We're really excited that people can come and enjoy it now that it's finished."
Senior telecommunications major Chad Cooper and five other students have spent the last few months documenting the making of the sculpture.
"The documentary is being funded by a grant from the Ball State Center for Media and Design and Minnetrista is overseeing the production," Cooper said.
Cooper's ten-minute documentary, shot by high definition cameras, will be available for public viewing by labor day weekend at the Minnetrista theatre.
Cooper said he acts as cinematographer, director, editor and is helping with the script.
"I'm just trying to absorb everything and capture it," Cooper said. Minnetrista wants to preserve the making of Catalyst."
The dichroic glass used in Catalyst is the same type of material used by NASA as well as the film industry. but now the art community has discovered it and is beginning to use it, Cooper said.
Robert Seaton is the technical manager for the documentary and said that the team is using high definition cameras so the project will be ready for the future.
Seaton is working on an indoor interactive kiosk exhibit for Minnetrista's heclagallery, which overlooks the sculpture.
"With the kiosk, people who have questions can come in and go to the exhibit," Seaton said. "They will be able to view a high definition video at the kiosk, which will be built like a Web site is relatively new."
Seaton is also creating a Web site to go with the exhibit, which he says will be similar to the kiosk without all the bells and whistles. Both the exhibit and the Web site should be on display by September.
"Seeing the sculpture grow and being in the middle of it is like becoming a part of it," Cooper said. "It's been neat to get to see everything behind the scenes, especially since it's finally here now."
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