A Bunch of Blueberries in Marshall County would like to announce there will be an unveiling of three sculptured and painted blueberries this Friday, Sept 29th and everyone is welcome to see these newly created pieces of art in the streets and park.
At 12 noon the Plymouth Public Library (south doors) the Tri Kappa Blueberry titled ‘Celebrating 100 Years’ painted by Jennifer Calhoun will be unveiled.
Six of the businesses in the 200 block of North Michigan Street joined forces to sponsor one of the giant blueberry sculptures. At 12:15 in the middle of the block “Blueberry Businesses in Bloom” painted by Laurie Balla will also be unveiled. Businesses participating in the sponsorship include: Yoder’s Sports Center, Pilot News, Fernbaugh’s Diamonds and Fine Jewelry, Allison Kara State Farm, Kings Jewelry and Robertson & Cook Insurance.
The final blueberry to be unveiled will be in River Park Square at 12:30. The blueberry sponsored by Heiden Creative and Stillson Studio titled ‘World of Opportunity’ was painted by Katie Bowling, Olivia Coulter and Rachel Rettig, students from the Plymouth Community School Corporation.
During the Marshall County Blueberry Festival, Steve Weaver and Heartland Artists will be painting a fourth blueberry titled – ‘Tribute to Veterans, Active Soldiers and First Responders’. You will find the artists and blueberry under the tent off the south doors at Jefferson Elementary School in the park. Stop by and share in the Tribute to those who have served and/or continue to serve!
The goal is to see these sculptures in all of Marshall County. All Marshall County towns have been approached about the Blueberry project and have genuine interest. The orders to date have come from the
Plymouth Community only.
Other blueberries already unveiled in the spring and summer include ‘Building a Brighter Future’ located at River Park Square, painted by Jeff Stillson and sponsored by United Way and Marshall County Community Foundation
‘Blueberries for Hank’ located at the Marshall County Blueberry Festival office on Jefferson, painted by Larry Holloway and sponsored by Marshall County Blueberry Festival.
‘Man in Blueberry Moon’ located in front of Heartland Artists Gallery, painted by Maurice Costello and sponsored by Heartland Artists Gallery.
More blueberries to be unveiled later in the fall include two from Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, one from ITAMCO and one at Dairy Queen.
There are so many ways these Blueberry Sculptures can be used:
– Acknowledge and thanks to existing organizations by placing a blueberry at their location.
– Building awareness of your own business or service location.
– Adding art or a message on the streets, parks and art culture to our community or to
– Donate to a not-for-profit agency.
Thank you to so many:
We would like to thank the community for the overwhelming response to the blueberry sculptures; our first year grew 11 colorfully painted blueberries; we are planting the seeds for the second year to grow even more. Special thanks to community businesses that have assisted in this project:
Transit Mix – donating all cement bases
Lincolnway Auto Body – discounted automotive acrylic coatings on all blueberries
Anco Office Products – duplicating forms
Thanks to all the businesses who have initiated this project with their creativity and sponsorship to date. There have been creative ways to sponsor a blueberry.
Thank you and kudos to the artists (members of the Heartland Artists Gallery or live in Plymouth) for sharing their time and talent to add color, design and messaging to these blueberry sculptures on the streets of Plymouth and Marshall County.
Next Phase
The next phase of this project will team up with the Boys and Girls Club of Marshall County and donate to their continued and successful mission here. After 19 years serving this community, we would like to applaud their work and positive influence and donate to their mission. We understand the continued growth and challenges of this organization and would like to help by donating through the blueberry sculpture project.
With this new goal a slight increase in sponsorship fee will enable us to give back to the community in the form of donations to the Boys & Girls Club. In the first phase the cost of the blueberries was based on covering the amount of the exclusive blueberry mold made for Marshall County. With the purchase of these initial eleven blueberries that mold has been paid for. That led us to phase two, where we reviewed costs and will now be able to donate $300. from each new sponsored blueberry to Boys and Girls Club.
Shelley Heiden at 574.274.4376 or shelleyheiden@heidencreative.com is the contact for more information and in sponsoring blueberries. You can follow us on Facebook – Blueberries in Marshall County.
