Community art project takes shape with help from Waupaca Foundry

A community-based art initiative is taking shape in Waupaca. It's called Project SHINE, and the Waupaca Foundry is providing the framework.

"This is not a normal production day for us. So what we did is we shut three of our production lines down, so we could do a special arts board," said Hemmila, Waupaca Foundry's plant manager.

The special arts board order begins with a stream of molten metal, tapping the thermometer at about 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit.

"What we've done is we've take a printed mold, and then we've taken our ladle and we've moved it off our production line in order to pour the casting today," Hemmila said.

Hemmila said the casting will be used for the framework for a program called Project SHINE.

"We have some specific actual pieces of art, or just kind of random, putting things together," said Marci Reynolds, Waupaca Community Arts Boardmember.

Reynolds showed some of the fused-glass tiles that are part of the project Thursday morning. Board member Cindy Kelm says community members spent the last year creating the squares. She says manufacturing and art meld together.

"We had over 170 people that came for a series of workshops and made these tiles, from elementary kids' age to people in their 90s," said Kelm.

Art leaders say four, eight-foot tall panels will be assembled and installed at Rotary Park in downtown Waupaca.

"And some of the metal from the old trolley street cars were melted down to be put in, and repurposed into the metal sculpture," said Kelm.

"It's been nice to be involved with the Waupaca Community, as well as the Arts Board. And definitely looking forward to our next project, after this one is complete," said Hemmila.

What might be that next project?

"That will be up to Marci. Whatever she dreams up, we can make it," he said.

Art leaders say they expect the project to be completed in the fall.