The Student Sculpture Garden at Millennium Park in Clinton was Officially Opened on Thursday

by Bob Montgomery

Members of the public along with the artists were on hand Thursday for the opening of the Student Sculpture Garden at the Millennium Park in Clinton.

Central Huron Community Improvement Coordinater Angela Smith says in the beginning she just wanted a public art exhibit but then she thought there are two secondary schools in Clinton and they both have welding departments, so maybe they could create two sculptures. And then if they could create two, why not a dozen. Indeed, why not.

“So we put it out to both Avon Maitland and the Huron Perth Catholic School Board and this is the result. We have a dozen sculptures and the Technical Training Group was also involved.” Smith says they needed some money to make this work and they got some funding from the Huron County Economic Development Department through one of their programs that supports Economic Development projects. Smith says the Student Sculpture Garden not only draws people to the downtown, but it also supports local youth and work force development. The students are learning how to weld but could also potentially become employees of Huron County manufacturers. Smith also says the Huron Manufacturing Association provided some funding and material for the project.

Tanner Brooks is one of the welding artists with a sculpture in the Garden. He's a grade eleven student at Central Huron Secondary School and is interested in welding as a career, but says it was a very unique experience to learn how to weld and create a work of art that is now a permanent part of the Student Sculpture Garden at Millennium Park.

And just to make sure the sculptures get the attention they deserve, Smith says they're all lit up at night and they will be part of the National Program of Lighting Land Marks. Clinton is on the map when it comes to National Land Marks and being lit up.

Tanner Brooks, welder and artist