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198 W Center St, Marion OH 43302
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Mon-Fri: 10:00 – 5:00
The Cardinal Project
The Cardinal Project is a public art initiative of Downtown Marion, Inc.
This project comes as an effort of Downtown Marion, Inc., led by Cardinal Project Committee Chair, Dean Jacob.
The Cardinal is Ohio’s state bird. With Ohio as the 17th state admitted to the Union, a total of 17 statues, each 5′ tall, have been installed throughout downtown Marion.
The idea of placing animal sculptures as a public art display in Marion first came to Jacob from seeing the Chicago “Cows on Parade” statues and from other similar public art projects around the country. Jacob then asked, “Why not Marion?!”
This project was generously funded through private individual donations and organization sponsorships; with half the funding provided by a Marion Community Foundation grant. Artists’ time and talent were also donated to accomplish the project.
To get the project started, a design committee fielded designs from numerous local artists. Thirteen local artists were ultimately selected and pitched in with ideas, supplies, and time to create the cardinal. A 5-foot-tall, reinforced fiberglass figure, the cardinal statues are painted in a variety of colors and themes; some feature local attractions and highlight Marion’s historic landmarks, while others are artistic interpretations. Each statue features a plaque detailing the sponsor, designer, and painter of the art installation while telling the story of each Cardinal’s design.
Cardinal Statues in Marion
The 17 designs selected by the committee were imagined by 13 local artists:
Amanda Adkins, Lou Graziani, Andrea Johnston, Ben Kern, Dianne Krumnow, Bobbi Lapushansky, Annette Montis, Jane W. Nelson, William Obenour, Linda L. Smith, Kevin Tackett, Kelly Taylor, and Cindy Wood. Their designs honor first responders, spotlight Marion landmarks, recall Marion history, and showcase purely artistic impressions.
Zenburda
Located:
Busby Park on the corner of Prospect & Center Streets
Artist:
Diane Krumnow
Sponsors:
Carroll’s Jewelers
In memory of Linda Thurston and Marion Community Foundation
Impression: Cardinal
Located:
Founders Park
on the corner of Main & Church Streets
Artist:
Ben Kern
Sponsors:
Dean & Sue Jacob and Marion Community Foundation
Celebrating the Women of Marion
Located:
Harding Centre
267 West Center Street
Design:
Andrea Johnston
Artist:
Amanda Adkins
Sponsors:
Lois J. Fisher & Associates and Family and Marion Community Foundation
“This project is a way to showcase the incredible talent of local artists, highlight Marion history and culture, and enhance the city streetscape all at the same time.”
– Dean Jacob, project organizer
Magical Gem
Located:
Marion Palace Theatre
276 West Center Street
Artist:
Jane Nelson
Sponsors:
Fogle Farms – Kit, Lori, Abigail & Alexis and Marion Community Foundation
Gen. Francis Marion, The “Swamp Fox”
Located:
Heritage Hall
169 East Church Street
Artist:
Lou Graziani
Sponsors:
Marion Rotary Club
Life in Pieces
Located:
The Explore-It-Torium
244 South Main Street
Artist:
Linda L. Smith
Sponsors:
Dr. Jay & Janice Moodley and Marion Community Foundation
Marion County Courthouse
Located:
Marion County Courthouse
on the corner of Main & Center Streets
Artist:
Kevin Tackett
Sponsors:
Kevin & Ruth Smith and Marion Community Foundation
Marion’s Peacekeepers
Located:
Marion City Hall
233 West Center Street
Indoor Installation
Artist:
Amanda Adkins
Sponsors:
Steve Young FOP Memorial Lodge 24 of Marion and Marion Community Foundation
“Cardinals” are trending on social media and downtown business owners are seeing a noticeable increase in foot traffic from people coming downtown specifically to seek out the cardinals.
“I love seeing lots of people exploring the downtown and searching out the new cardinals. Public art is important and helps add to the downtown vibe.”
– Luke Henry, downtown business owner and developer
Marion County Fair
Located:
Marion County Administration Building
222 West Center Street
Design:
Cindy Wood
Artist:
Amanda Adkins
Sponsors:
Friends of Agriculture and Marion Community Foundation
Seasons of a Buckeye
Located:
United Church Homes
170 East Center Street
Design:
Kelly Taylor
Artist:
Ben Kern
Sponsors:
United Church Homes and Marion Community Foundation
Special Thanks
- Former Mayor Scott Shertzer
- City of Marion
- Marion County Commissioners
- Trophies & More (plaques)
- Dan Kelly Stump Grinding
- Dave Neidhart’s Stump Removal
- Zach Wheeler (logo & graphic design)
- Lori Stevenson (promotion)
Blue Skies Over Marion
Located:
Fahey Banking Company
127 North Main Street
Artist:
William Obenour
Sponsors:
United Way of North Central Ohio, Housing Coalition 2020, and Marion Community Foundation
Fire Bird
Located:
Marion City Fire Station #1
186 South Prospect Street
Artist:
Amanda Adkins
Sponsors:
Marion Local Firefighters 379 and Marion Community Foundation
Project Thanks
- Installation: Mike Brown & Baldauf Construction
- Tommy Cantrell & Integrity Home Improvments
- Tri Rivers Career Center Construction Trades Academy
- J&M Concrete
- Cy & Julie Prettyman
- Design & Fabrication: FAST Fiberglass, LLC of Sparta, WI
- Clear Coating: Herb’s Body Shop
- PPG
My Feathered Friend
Located:
OhioHealth Building
165 West Center Street
Design:
Bobbi Lapushansky
Artist:
Amanda Adkins
Sponsors:
OhioHealth Marion General Hospital and Marion Community Foundation
Good Olde Marion Town
Located:
Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
198 West Center Street
Design:
Annette Montis
Artist:
Jane Nelson
Sponsors:
Sims Brothers Recycling and Marion Community Foundation
Thank you to these generous project sponsors
Taking Flight Sponsor:
Marion Community Foundation
Red Wing Sponsor:
Marion Rotary Club (General Francis Marion, “Swamp Fox”)
- Jeff & Amy Baldauf (Cardinal of Carnations)
- Carroll’s Jewelers (Zenburda)
- First Citizens National Bank (Redbird)
- Fogle Farms – Kit, Lori, Abigail & Alexis (Magical Gem)
- Friends of Agriculture (Marion County Fair)
- Holbrook & Manter CPAs and H&M Financial Advisors, LLC (Oorang Indians)
- Dean & Sue Jacob (Impression: Cardinal)
- Lois J. Fisher & Associates and Family (Celebrating the Women of Marion)
- Marion Firefighters Local 379 (Fire Bird)
- Dr. Jay & Janice Moodley (Life in Pieces)
- OhioHealth Marion General Hospital (My Feathered Friend)
- Sims Brothers Recycling (Good Olde Marion Town)
- Kevin & Ruth Smith (Marion County Courthouse)
- Steve Young FOP Memorial Lodge 24 of Marion (Marion’s Peacekeepers)
- United Church Homes (Seasons of a Buckeye)
- United Way of North Central Ohio Housing Coalition 2020 (Blue Skies Over Marion)
Cardinal of Carnations
Located:
Fisher Building
107 North Main Street
Artist:
Amanda Adkins
Sponsors:
Jeff & Amy Baldauf and Marion Community Foundation
Oorang Indians
Located:
Southwest corner of State and Center Streets
Artist:
Kevin Tackett
Sponsors:
Holbrook & Manter CPAs, H&M Financial Advisors, LLC,
and Marion Community Foundation
Redbird
Located:
Northwest corner of Church and Vine Streets
Artist:
Annette Montis
Sponsors:
First Citizens National Bank and Marion Community Foundation
Designers & Artists
- Dianne Krumnow, Artist (Zenburda)
- Ben Kern, Artist (Impression: Cardinal and Seasons of a Buckeye)
- Andrea Johnston, Designer (Celebrating the Women of Marion)
- Amanda Adkins, Artist (Celebrating the Women of Marion, Marion’s Peacekeepers, Marion County Fair, Fire Bird, My Feathered Friend, Cardinal of Carnations)
- Jane Nelson, Artist (Magical Gem, Good Olde Marion Town)
- Lou Graziani, Artist (Gen. Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox”)
- Linda L. Smith, Artist (Life in Pieces)
- Kevin Tackett, Artist (Marion County Courthouse, Oorang Indians)
- Cindy Wood, Designer (Marion County Fair)
- Kelly Taylor, Designer (Seasons of a Buckeye)
- William Obenour, Artist (Blue Skies Over Marion)
- Bobbi Lapushansky, Designer (My Feathered Friend)
- Annette Montis, Artist (Good Olde Marion Town, Redbird)
Routed Walking Map
View a routed walking map of the Cardinal statues in locations throughout Downtown Marion.
Printed maps are available at the Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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