Sisters dedicates newest public art

Despite the chilly weather in Barclay Park on Saturday, December 8, family and friends arrived early for the dedication of the 10-foot-tall great blue heron sculpture in honor of Elizabeth Dasch, artist and longtime resident of Sisters, who passed away in 2009 at age 97.

The towering bronze sculpture was created by local artist Danae Bennett Miller. The project was over a year in the making.

Dasch's three grown children donated $25,000 toward the sculpture in her memory.

"My mother loved birds, she was especially fond of the crane," recalled Mardi Wood, Dasch's daughter. "She was an artist and enjoyed painting on enamel, she inspired me and my brothers, we all became artists."

Great blue heron are commonly referred to as blue cranes; they are similar in size, but they are not related to the crane. The great blues take up residence here locally by the rivers and lakes.

Family, friends and folks of the Sisters community congregated in Barclay Park and enjoyed complimentary coffee and cookies supplied by the Rotary Club. Music was provided by Mike Patterson, a Sisters Americana Project student.

The dedication began with Susan Springer, Sisters Public Art (SPA) committee member. The SPA works proactively to bring community art to public places.

"This sculpture was created by Danae Bennett Miller. She is known for her large bronze sculptures. She created this sculpture from 70 pieces of bronze welded around a stainless steel frame," announced Springer. "Danae made a much smaller version of the sculpture; it is a limited edition and is available at Tumalo Art Company in Bend. A percentage of the sales will be donated for art education here in Sisters."

Mayor Lon Kellstrom welcomed the dedication of Sisters' newest public art by acknowledging that over the past few years, the city has made, or been the beneficiary of, several public art investments, all of which honor the rich heritage of Sisters Country. He then named the many eclectic art designs in Sisters that are for public viewing, from the running horses along Highway 20 east of town to the rearing horse on Cascade Avenue.

Elizabeth Dasch's three grown children attended the dedication, each from different states.

Dasch's son Spencer Wood, from Boise, Idaho, spoke first.

"Mom was a wonderful lady; she instilled in her children a love of art, so we all paint," he said. "My sister is a ceramist and my brother is a large-format landscape photographer."

Erskine Wood, the youngest son, from Vancouver, Washington, spoke tenderly of how his mother inspired him and his siblings as children.

"I have fond memories of our mother, she taught us to draw and sketch, and encouraged us to be artists," he said.

Mardi Wood, Dasch's daughter from Bolinas, California, thanked Danae Bennett Miller for the sculpture.

"It's been fabulous working with Danae and watching this bird come to life," she said.

The dedication plaque that will be by the sculpture reads: "She loved all the birds, Especially the Cranes and Herons. Artist: Danae Bennett Miller. Dedicated: December 8, 2012. Given to the City of Sisters In Memory of Elizabeth Dasch By her Family and Friends."