Vandalia

• "Bellwether" by Todd Frahm will be placed at the Vandalia Recreation Center.
• "Sunset" by Lasha Khidasheli will be located on the front lawn of the Vandalia Justice Center.
• "Inward and Outward: All in All" by John Leon will be placed at Cassel Hills Golf Course.
• "Last Love VI" by Patrick Sullivan will be located at Seger Park.
• "At Play in Geologic Time" by Matthew Weir will be placed in Lichtenfels Park.

For more information or to join in any upcoming art activities, please e-mail cfarst@vandaliaohio.org  or call (937) 266-9066.

History of Vandalia Chiseled Vandalia Chiseled was a two-week stone sculpture symposium featuring five nationally-recognized sculptors, who used the Vandalia Recreation Center south lot as their artist's studio and large blocks of Indiana limestone as their canvas. The limestone blocks were delivered on Wednesday, August 25. The blocks had been cut to the artist's specifications prior to delivery. Looking at these big blocks of stone, it takes real imagination to envision what they will become under the artists' hands.

At the opening ceremonies, held on Saturday, September 4, 2010, the artists were introduced to the community and they explained the thought process behind their designs. A big component of the Stone Sculpture Symposium was the education element. Throughout the two-week period, school kids visited to watch the artists at work. When the symposium was over, every class in Kindergarten through 6th grade in Vandalia-Butler Schools and St. Christopher Elementary School had visited the site. The children asked questions and learned what it takes to be a sculptor. They were also able to try their hand at chiseling.

The symposium featured four blocks of limestone designed expressly for visitors to chisel away at. One factor that took many by surprise was the mount of dust created by the sculptors. Much of the cutting and filing and sanding that took place produced large amounts of fine limestone dust. The artists used high pressure air hoses to get the dust off before leaving at the end of the day.

As the first week wrapped up, many of the pieces were already beginning to take shape. The artists taking part in Chiseled had a very busy schedule. They worked from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every night. In the evenings, they were immersed in the Vandalia community, meeting civic groups and organizations and playing the role of diplomat. 

At the closing ceremonies, each artist was invited to speak about their piece and explain the thought process behind it. A good crowd was on hand to get a first-hand look at the finished pieces.

Sponsors 
This project was made possible through the generous participation of many individuals, organizations and businesses. The Public Art in Vandalia Committee was the inspiration and force behind this event. The City of Vandalia's City Manager's Office, along with the Vandalia Parks and Recreation Department and the Vandalia Public Works Division, were essential for the success of Vandalia "Chiseled."