While the focus
is on modern architecture in Columbus, people who live here take great pride in
historic preservation and finding new uses for old buildings. Garfield
Elementary School, which was built in 1896, was preserved and used as part of
the corporate headquarters of Arvin Industries.
In 1989, the structure was renovated and expanded with a new addition, which was designed by architect William Browne, Jr. of Ratio Architects. Making up the eastern section of the building, the architect was careful to use similar materials and styles in order to match the new addition with the old school.
When Arvin merged with Meritor to become ArvinMeritor, Inc., the corporate headquarters were relocated to Troy, Michigan. ArvinMeritor made a generous offer to sell the building to the local school corporation. In 2005, it was purchased by the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, and the building now houses the administrative offices, as well as those for the Family School Partner program, and the Bartholomew Special Services Cooperative.
Puddles and Frog Pond by Jo Saylors
We've learned that a sculpture is different from a drawing or painting in that it's three-dimensional, having length, width, and depth. A statue is a sculpture that represents a person or animal. Such figures can be made in a variety of ways, including carving, modeling, and casting.
Types of sculpture are classified as relief and in the round. If the statue projects from a background, such as the figures on the Arc de Triomphe, it's called a relief sculpture, but if one can see the entire figure from all sides, the work is referred to as an in the round sculpture.
Puddles and Frog Pond, an in the round sculpture of two children playing in water and created by Oklahoma sculptor Jo Saylors, was in front of the BCSC Administration Building. The artist also created Crack the Whip, which is located downtown in a grassy area between Second and Brown Streets. The sculptures were cast in bronze, an alloy or combination of copper and tin. Casting metal is done by melting it and pouring the liquid metal into a mold that was created by the artist.
Many years ago, the little girl, Puddles, was stolen from the pond area in front of the building that houses offices of the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation. A fund drive was held, and money was raised to pay for the creation and installation of a new sculpture. The new one, now known as Lilly, was created by Columbus artist Linda Peterson, and it's shown here shortly after its installation in May, 2017.
© 2006 Marilyn J. Brackney (updated 2018)
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