Rhinelander Public Art Commission decides location of proposed ‘Iron Hodag’ sculpture

There’s a hefty new Hodag coming to town, and the Rhinelander Public Art Commission had its first meeting of the year March 25 to help smooth its way.

Chaired by Virginia Roberts, the meeting at Rhinelander City Hall centered on discussion of the “Iron Hodag” project. ArtStart community enhancement and facilities director Ashley McLaughlin was on hand with the proposal for the 8-foot-long by 4-foot-wide metal Hodag sculpture, which is being created by artist Don Gaber of Mondovi for installation in June with completion in early July.

“I’m proposing that ArtStart manage with the artist the installation process, and then ArtStart can take care of the project for about two years and then transition it to the city,” McLaughlin said. “So that way we can work out any maintenance kinks or anything like that.”

Gaber, apperaing via Zoom, told the gathering that the sculpture is being created from reclaimed iron and steel materials. 

“In this case, donated parts from the people of Rhinelander, from various businesses, from the Historical Society, so far,” he said. “And then some of my relatives who are from Rhinelander.

“ … I’m working with Ahlstrom to get some different gauges and different parts from the machinery that they’re decommissioning … I’ve also got some crosscut saw blades, some different tools, and some items like some axe heads and different components that were donated already, and they’re going to be incorporated into it. 

“The main thing I want to do is, like most of my work, I want to have it recognizable from a distance, and then they’ll see, ‘Oh, yeah, there’s a Hodag, right?’ And when they get up close, they see all the intricate components and parts that make up the whole.”

For the installation, he said the idea is to have a slab poured underneath, “and then have metal tabs with holes that you can just drill and put anchors into the ground.”

“This sculpture is already paid for,” McLaughlin said. “We’re not asking for any money from the city.” 

McLaughlin added the project has an estimated total budget of $16,000, according to the proposal. 

“Right now we would like input from the commission on the location,” she said.

Three potential locations for the installation were discussed, two of them green spaces on corners of Brown Street — one across from the old State Theatre, and one across from Mel’s Trading Post — and the third possibility being Stevensport Square, next to McDonald’s.

The corner of Brown and Anderson, across from Mel’s, was selected, and was approved by the commission.

“A consideration for the city with that would be a project for city workers just to clear the space and prep it for the sculpture, but all of the actual work related to the sculpture, pouring the concrete pad and such would be coordinated by ArtStart,” said McLaughlin, “so it wouldn’t have to go through the city bidding process because it would be owned by ArtStart for the first part of it.”

“I think this is a great opportunity to start a revolution of arts and culture in downtown Rhinelander,” alderman Tom Barnett observed, attending via Zoom. “And I think it’s an important step to show the community that bringing art and culture into Rhinelander on a more visible level is going to increase tourism. It’s going to help our local economy tremendously. So I appreciate all the work you guys are doing into this, and I think this is a fantastic first step into it.”

Ardith Carlton may be reached at [email protected].