Bones the Bison was unveiled at First Friday Sept. 2 on the courthouse lawn. Bones is one of five bisons in the county as part of the Bisontennial Public Art Project. The others are in Syracuse, Winona Lake and two in North Webster. Indiana Association of United Ways is coordinating the Bison-tennial Public Art Project. This legacy project is helping celebrate Indiana’s 200th birthday by decorating and displaying 5-foot-tall fiberglass bison with an end goal of at least one – if not a herd – of bison on display in each of Indiana’s 92 counties, according to Indianabisonart.org. The bison were expected to be completed around Memorial Day, with appearances in the local community and along the Bicentennial Torch Relay route leading up to Indiana’s Bicentennial Statehood Day Dec. 11, 2016. Before the reveal, Mayor Joe Thallemer said a few words about it, the “Bison-tennial” and Indiana’s 200th anniversary. Warsaw’s Bison-tennial Public Art Project was brought about by the Warsaw Public Art Commission. The Bison-tennial Public Art Project is a statewide project with all 92 counties participating. “We are fortunate that the ArtFULLY Warsaw Fund, at the recommendation of our Warsaw Public Art Commission, was able to purchase the bison through an anonymous donor,” he said. Commission members are Suzie Light, Paulette Davis, Stephanie Salyer, Julia Parke, Kallie Kirkendall, Staci Young and Thallemer. The team collaborated with many businesses and individuals to help Warsaw celebrate Indiana’s bicentennial. Thallemr said the committee wanted “to recognize and thank them all for this unique art project. Thank you to the creative team who designed and painted our Bison team from Zimmer Biomet.” The team included: Robin Brown, senior director, integrated marketing and corporate branding, Zimmer Biomet; Kurt Kelsey, director, creative services; Tara Haack, creative lead, Zimmer Biomet; Cara Fifer, graphic designer, Zimmer Biomet; Amy Jo Brown, creative project coordinator, Zimmer Biomet; Amy Hook, graphic designer/photographer, Zimmer Biomet; Mary Jackson, medical illustrator, Zimmer Biomet; April Lamb, graphic designer, Zimmer Biomet; Colin Nuner, graphic designer, Zimmer Biomet; and Tim Stonecipher, graphic designer, Zimmer Biomet. “Thank you to Zimmer Biomet who donated the supplies and team member’s time. Thank you to Greg Houlton, Allegra Print & Imaging, who donated and installed the Circle Z Decal. Sherwin Williams, Warsaw, donated the paint. In addition, the Clear Coat was donated and applied by Crouse,” Thallemer said. “Our bison will be on display and be a part of Indiana’s Bicentennial Torch Relay coming Warsaw on September 29. After that, he will be part of our Public Art Trail and will be making his permanent home along our Greenway at a location yet to be determined. Therefore, in the Orthopedic Capital of the World, ladies and gentlemen, I give you Bones, our Bison,” he stated.
