Outdoor Sculptures in Belleville
The Belleville and Van Buren DDAs are pleased to bring outdoor sculptures to our community, showcasing our commitment to invention and cooperation. This year's exhibit enhances our streetscape and parks, engages residents and visitors and highlights local businesses. With the artists and Midwest Sculpture Initiative we are celebrating this special place where we live, work and play.
Use this interactive map to locate each statue.
Do you like what you see? These sculptures are for sale, and a portion of the proceeds stays in the local community. Contact Midwest Sculpture Initiative at 517-486-4591.
Take a stroll through downtown and enjoy the sculptures for yourself!
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Van Buren Township Hall
(New Location: 46425 Tyler Rd)Title: Spring Time Promise
Artist: Ric Leichliter | Sugar Grove, OH
$6500
Ric Leichliter studied fine art and blacksmithing, and previously owned the Village Blacksmith Shop in Lancaster, Ohio. Leichliter has an arts degree from Sienna Heights University in Adrian, Michigan. His art came about from his work as a blacksmith, where he made chandeliers and did restoration work on doors and fences, among other things. He now works full time as a self-employed sculptor. In addition to creating his own artwork, for years Ric has worked with local high school students to create public art pieces for downtown Lancaster. He writes: "Everyone is an art critic up to the point they make a purchase, at that point they are genius in their perceptions." -
Walgreen's/Menards
Title: Surely
Artist: D.W. Martin | Edinboro, PA
$9500
David W. Martin was born and raised in Oklahoma. After working as a commercial artist, Martin earned a BFA in printmaking from the University of Oklahoma. In 1987, he was accepted into the MFA Sculpture Program at Virginia Commonwealth University. David says, “It has been my desire to take a static structure that is common in our daily visual vocabulary and bring to it life, in hopes of changing our visual perception of an otherwise mundane object.” D.W. Martin’s surrealist sculptures offer a different, enchanting view of the world. A resident of Edinboro Pennsylvania, Martin exhibits his outdoor sculptures in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, New York, Michigan, Indiana, and Tennessee. Martin teaches sculpture and 3D Foundations at Edinboro University. -
Belle Tire
Title: Harlequin
Artist: Pamela Reithmeier | Monclova, Ohio
$4000
Pam Reithmeier has a Masters in Special Education, she retired after teaching for 34 years. Pamela began sculpting in 2002, showing her works in galleries, juried shows, private collections and commissioned pieces throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee and Florida. Pamela is drawn to making sculptures inspired by nature and uses both salvaged and new materials in her artwork. She is currently president of the Toledo Area Sculptures Guild and teaches an Art Welding class. -
McDonald's and Taco Bell
Title: Tree of Life
Artist: Richard Morgan | Wauseon Hills, OH
$4750
During his 35 year career Richard Morgan worked in the welding field. More recently he discovered a passion for metal art, bringing a whole new meaning and passion for working with metal. As he began to teach himself to create metal art, Richard wanted to create unique pieces of both functional and non-functional art. Each piece is individually designed, cut, shaped, welded by hand and Richard truly enjoys the challenge. His artworks are constructed partially with repurposes materials and are a benefit to the environment. -
Quirk Road Triangle
Title: Old Orchard
Artist: Todd Kime | Ottawa Hills, Ohio
$17,000
Todd Kime is the owner of a custom residential architectural design firm called Kime Design. From architecture to art, Todd’s passion for the creative process drives his work. By using a wide spectrum of materials in different genres of art, a sense of whimsy is always prevalent in his sculptures. He creates art to share his passion for creativity and to bring joy to others through his pieces. In 2006 he created “Sight”, an art studio for sharing and promoting both his and his wife Nancy’s art. Todd is a participant in many regional sculpture exhibits. -
Belleville Gateway Sign
Title: Madame Butterfly
Artist: Mike Sohikian | Genoa, Ohio
$12,000
As a retired ironworker, Mike Sohikian has been a member of the Bridge and Structural Ironworkers Local 55 for 38 years. Mike has had a lifetime of love and appreciation for art, and making metal into sculpture fulfills him. His formal art career began in 1995, and he is recognized for taking salvaged steel to new heights with impressive and innovative concepts. Mike says "The tools I used are basically the same tools I used as an iron worker. Mike has garnered acclaim and numerous prestigious awards for his works. His paintings and sculptures are in over 400 art collections nationwide. -
Horizon Park
Title: Inverted Arch Seven
Artist: Kenneth M. Thompson | Blissfield, MI
$8500
Kenneth M. Thompson has been making sculpture since 1978 out of a former car dealership now turned studio in Blissfield, Michigan. From this facility, he and his assistants also operate Flatlanders Sculpture Supply & Art Galleries, as well as Midwest Sculpture Initiative. He holds a Master of Liberal Studies in Sculpture from the University of Toledo and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and printmaking from Siena Heights University, Adrian, Michigan. Ken is well versed in bronze casting and metal fabrication but prefers stone carving. Since 1997 his major focus has been large scale public sculpture, completing over 50 commissions. In addition to making large sculptures, he enjoys doing smaller scale work for gallery exhibitions. Ken has twenty-six one person shows, numerous group exhibitions, as well as many awards to his credit. -
Chase Bank
Title: Blue Migration
Artist: Toni Diane Lucadello | Fostoria, OH
$10,500
Toni Lucadello is a retired academic and visual art educator. Taking a variety of courses from the Toledo Museum of Art’s School of Art and Design added more studio knowledge to her Masters of Art degree. Now creating sculpture is her priority, and has led to exhibiting work in local, national and international shows. Her art business Systems Sculpture LLC was established in 2008. Her work is based on science concepts ranging from biology to theoretical physics, with the intent that the science related titles of the art would stimulate discussion and exploration, perhaps leading to new perspectives and innovations. Whether designing an art object or developing a science experiment, the creative process is activated. -
4th Street Square
Title: The Oak Leaf Arch III
Artist: Jim Gallucci | Greensboro, NC
$25,000
Jim Galucci has been a sculptor for over 30 years. He works full time designing and fabricating sculptures in his Greensboro studio. His commissions can be found throughout the country and the world. Recently Jim’s sculptures utilize the element of doors and gateways, symbolizing the paradox that a gate may be opened or closed, a way of passage or obstruction, a means of confinement or release. With each project, Jim brings a unique sense of self-expression while captivating the viewer. "Art is a physical manifestation of an idea or event that calls forth an emotional response from the viewer. Good art challenges us, can make us feel righteous, moves us, soothes us and can bring us peace." -
Five Points
Title: Curves
Artist: Ray Katz | Pontiac, MI
$15,000
Ray Katz was born and raised in Detroit. After graduating Mumford High School, he served four years in the US Air Force, where he became interested in art. He received a Masters of Fine Arts in sculpture and drawing from Wayne State University. Ray’s sculptures allude to an evolutionary process commonly shared in the human experience – the flux of life and transformative concepts such as evolution, metamorphosis and transcendence. Ray has exhibited his work publicly and privately throughout the United States, France and Japan. -
PERMANENT INSTALLATION: Horizon Park
Title: Hands Held
Artist:Gregory Mendez | Ft. Wayne, IN
The BELLEVILLE AREA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS purchased the sculpture in 2018 for permanent display in Horizon Park. Hands Held High is made entirely from steel and created by sculptor Gregory Mendez of Fort Wayne, IN.
Gregory is a nationally recognized artist of metal sculpting. When Greg was a boxer, he and his family would spend time between matches visiting local museums and parks. He became fascinated by the outdoor sculptures and the beauty they add to our surroundings. He graduated from the University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, Indiana with a BFA.
The sculptures are on loan from the Midwest Sculpture Initiative, and are presented in Belleville by generous community partners. Thank You to the PUBLIC ART PARTNERS:
| Belleville DDA | |
| Van Buren DDA | |
| Belleville Area Council for the Arts | |
| Belleville Tax and Accounting | |
| Central Business Community/CBC | |
| Sumpter Collision | |
| Main Street Computers |