It has been five years since the Village of Egg Harbor needed its Zoning Board of Appeals, which means it takes a bit of time to make sure it is adequately staffed to hear about a height variance request. Most issues that could potentially go before the panel are settled at the Plan Commission level through conditional use permits. That’s not the case regarding the proposed condo development at the Mueller Mini Mart. Even after scaling down plans to a two-story building with 14 units, architectural designs require an elevator shaft that rises above the Village’s height restriction. Administrator Ryan Heise says the board has added new members in recent weeks, and they’re hard at work studying for their new role.



The hearing should be held in early-to-mid October. The public art scene in Egg Harbor has added some new landmarks. Heise shares the following press release about the works of Milwaukee’s Richard Edelman being installed throughout the Village. A dedication ceremony is expected next spring.

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Milwaukee based artist Richard Edelman and his wife Nina are donating a series of art pieces to the Village of Egg Harbor, and its expanding public art scene is thriving. Edelman is no stranger to the Village, having worked with the community over a decade ago on a piece entitled “Blue Sail,” located at the Village Marina. Edelman and his wife Nina have loved their involvement with Egg Harbor since that time and are honored to be included in the community again. The pieces that will soon be in route to Egg Harbor are entitled: THREE DANCERS, and LITTLE DANCER AGED 14.



Kathleen Beck, Chair of the Egg Harbor Public Arts Initiative (PAI) has been working with the artist, along with the entire committee, to sort through the details of the pieces and placement. Mand-Beck says, “The Public Arts Initiative of Egg Harbor is happy and grateful to have been instrumental in working together behind the scenes with Richard and his wife to secure two amazing new sculptures for the Village. They will be egg-citing additions to our growing permanent collection of public art for everyone to enjoy!”



“I know very little about art, just enough to recognize the significant generosity and quality of work that Richard is providing the community,” says Village Administrator Ryan Heise. “The Village has done well to build a reputation for public art, and the momentum continues to build, largely thanks to the efforts of the PAI group.”



LITTLE DANCER AGED FOURTEEN- is to be placed at the north end of the off-street trailhead on Horseshoe Bay Road. Richard Edelman explains the sculpture, and how it was selected; “The Arts Committee urged that the sculpture be unpainted and to rust in harmony with the beautiful nature which surrounds it. This sculpture employs the exact same crescents and circles used in the THREE DANCERS sculpture. LITTLE DANCER AGED FOURTEEN is based on a sculpture of the same title by Edgar Degas of great historical importance in that it celebrated a humble stage dancer in Paris, rather that the then typical great general or politician. This figure celebrated the everyday person in our world, much as the trail leads us through the common inheritance of the natural world.”

According to Edelman, The THREE DANCERS sculpture is an expression of the freedom, joy and celebratory nature of dance in particular and the arts in general. The three pure primary colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow are used to assert the primacy and centrality of the arts in our lives. While each of the figures is in a formally difficult position -an arabesque, a swan, and an en pointe- they balance delicately by joining hands in space. A light landing in the midst of tension is a central theme. What more fitting location for these sculptures that the magnificent Peg Egan Center for the Performing Arts, which provides a wonderful venue for the performing arts in Door County and beyond.



With renovations to Horseshoe Bay Road and Church Street slated for 2020 and 2021 respectively, the pieces will be prominent and welcome additions to the Village.



Many of Edelman’s works can be found on his website: http://edelmansculpture.com/



Photo credits: Ryan Hainey, RH Photography

Little Dancer Aged 14

Three Dancers