Old Mill Square Park Public Sculptures Installation

Two significant public sculpture installations are coming to Old Mill
Square Park in Columbiana, Alabama.

Nationally-known sculptors Ted Metz and Nelson Grice have been commissioned to create unique sculptural concepts that have to do with
the history of Columbiana and Shelby County incorporated into their works.

Both artists were charged with including one of the two 1500 lb millstones that were unearthed on the property while preparing for the
foundation of the new Shelby County Arts Center and the new Old Mill Square Park. These millstones are of historical significance as they
were used on the property at the turn of the 20th century. Ted Metz’s bronze and steel sculpture will be installed first near the
entrance of the SCAC “Grande hall”. The title of Ted’s sculpture is “Sustenance: Agriculture, Art, Industry”. Ted is well-known as a recently
retired Professor of Art at the University of Montevallo -with that said, his work has been exhibited widely including The National Gallery
Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, Venice and Cortona ,Italy. Ted’s sculpture at Old Mill Square will be his 6th large scale public
sculpture and reach a height of 26 feet. Elements of the sculpture that relate to the historical narrative include Bricks from the historical Shelby iron works and (of course) the millstone found on the property. For a complete explanation of sculpture “Sustenance: Agriculture, Art, Industry” by Ted Metz click here.

The bronze casting and steel fabrication was executed at his home studio in Montevallo. A second sculpture also incorporating a millstone
found on the property will be completed later on in the year by sculptor Nelson Grice. The creation of the sculpture is already well underway.
Nelson’s sculpture is being cast in the Metal Arts foundry in the new Shelby County Arts Center! We invite the public to Nelson’s progress on
our Instagram (@shelby_county_arts) and Facebook (Shelby County Arts Council) pages.