Poe Road Project
Culture: Short Feature
The drive along E. Poe Road wasn't known as one of Bowling Green's most scenic experiences; that is, until BGSU’s Public Art Committee offered the BGSU Sculpture Club an opportunity to transform the site.
In the fall of 2005, the Poe Road Improvement Project was developed by a class in BGSU's School of Art, taught by instructor Greg Mueller. The Public Art Committee “broke us up into teams and we basically had free reign to pick the concept and idea for the artwork on campus,” says Megan Small, a member of the group whose idea “The People” was chosen by four judges drawn from the community and the School of Art. “We wanted to come up with a piece that brought the community into it, and a way that we could bring art into the community,” explains Jason Karas, another student designer involved with the project.
At the intersection of North College Drive and Poe Road now stands “The People". The sculpture takes the form of a mural, extending equally along both streets from the corner, for an overall length of 350 feet. Placed along the mural are 120 silhouettes of Bowling Green residents made from photographs taken of individuals involved in their daily lives as teachers, musicians, gardeners, business people, athletes, and others - even dog walkers!
A depiction of the Great Black Swamp occupies the corner where the two lengths of the wall meet. Silhouettes of animals were added in especially for children, who may want to try and locate them as they pass by the mural.
During the installation phase, Small says “all kinds of stuff buried under the ground” was discovered that complicated the work. Fiber optic cables and power lines were dangerous obstacles , and a shallow layer of bedrock at the site added to the difficulties by limiting the depth of the digging possible for the project's foundation.
To help with the budget, incentives were offered to donors, including having their name carved into the border of the mural. Special thanks go to Defiance Metal Products, the donor of the aluminum, steel, and laser cutting, while a number of local contractors helped lay cement and in other ways construct the mural. The Wood County Commissioners also added their support to the project.
As a result of all the effort, the corner of E. Poe Road and North College Drive is no longer another empty lot bordered with a plain wire fence. Instead it's become a proud tribute to the city and an important historical depiction of the Great Black Swamp.