Dade County and Trenton Collaborate on Civic Sculpture Project

In the same spirit of cooperation for which Dade County, and Trenton, are becoming known, another cooperative, public spirited endeavor is taking shape.

A large-scale sculptural tableau, “Aspiration”, is being constructed for placement along Highway #11 in Trenton. The artist who designed the sculpture is Bob Dombrowski

Dombrowski is working within a cooperative endeavor that involves the state of Georgia, the city of Trenton, the industrial-based National Boiler Service, and the Trenton Arts Council.

The Trenton Arts Council and National Boiler Service are the primary partners in this project. The project illustrates the possibilities that can emerge from a cooperative sensibility in a small community.

The tableau is a set of three large metal shapes placed in juxtaposition with a revolving, circling and rising line constructed of steel rod bent and shaped.

National Boiler Services, working from the rough sketch that functions as a guide throughout the construction process, tempered the sketch with engineering concerns - installation method; compensation for wind shear; structuring weak sections. The tableau is altering to accommodate the various practicalities.

The pieces will be fabricated from metal refuse and scrap generated by the boiler making process.

When completed, the sculpture tableau will be placed on highly visible land owned by the city of Trenton. The installation itself will be accomplished through assistance by city employees.

Subsequent to the placement of the sculpture tableau, the city high school agricultural students will take over the responsibility of developing a landscaping around the sculpture. They will use regional plants as the basis of a plan that enhances and makes inviting the entire site. Also, the sculpture, including the cooperative method of construction, will be a point of reference within the Dade County high school art education program.

Considering the minimal funding from the Georgia Arts Projects and the city of Trenton, the project is enormous. Without the donated time and materials from National Boiler Service, and the hours of donated time by other community members, the project could not even be considered.

Jon Talbott, of National Boiler, explains that most of the employees live in Trenton and enjoy contributing to their own community. As with other community-based projects that they’d assisted, Talbot said, a sense of community pride is developed among the company’s employees. It contributes significantly to company morale, he said.

Progressively, the sculpture is emerging from the community. In a cooperative gesture, D&B Custom Powder Coating will color the finished metal elements. The city maintenance department will pour the foundations and prepare the site. They will also overseer the actual installation. Sequatchie Concrete will provide the necessary cement for the footings.

The partnered funding source, Georgia Art Projects, stipulates a very short window for completion. The project must be completed by the end of June. Time is built into the project as a significant aspect of its construction.

The sculpture tableau will acquire its meaning and definition from the community. How they define it in conversation will be its identity. That aspect is in process. Cooperation from the Dade County Sentinel has already alerted the community to the sculpture in process.

A videotape document is being developed that follows the different steps taken to actually have the piece approved, constructed, and installed. The documentation will then focus on the community reaction.