Latest Public Art Project Celebrated In OC

OCEAN CITY – On Tuesday morning, Ocean City officials and members of the Ocean City Development Corporations (OCDC) and the Public Art Committee gathered to celebrate the unveiling of the Dance of the Dolphins sculpture at the foot of the Route 90 Bridge in Ocean City.

Dance of the Dolphins is the ninth art project added to OCDC’s Public Art collection over the last 15 years. Dance of the Dolphins has been placed on an eight-foot concrete base and each individual dolphin measures 8 feet, 7 feet and 5 feet in length, respectively, with a bronze wave as the supporting sculpture base. The overall statue measures 16 feet tall.

The sculpture is another signature piece designed by sculpture/artist David Turner of Turner Sculptures in Onley, Va. The sculpture will eventually be surrounded by a park designed by Becker Morgan Group Architects.
“You may ask why I am standing in the rain holding a dedication on a Tuesday in April. We picked today because it seems only appropriate because today is National Dolphin Day,” said OCDC Public Art Committee Chair Chris Trimper as he kicked off the ceremony. “The Public Art Program holds a strong place in OCDCs redevelopment efforts. These artistic works have become an integral part of our resorts landscaping. Dancing of the Dolphins is the ninth public art project and one of our favorites so far. “As all you know the OCDC is a non-profit organization, so we must rely on grants and private donations to fund many of our projects. We are in the early stages of a campaign to raise $100,000 to underwrite the costs of this statue and faucet. To date, we have raised over $40,000 with 100 percent participation from our board and our Public Art Committee.”

Mayor Rick Meehan came forward to congratulate Trimper and the OCDC Public Art Committee on the accomplishment as well as present a proclamation dedicating April 14 as Dolphin Day in Ocean City.

“The OCDC has played a great role in the redevelopment of Ocean City over the last few years, and they are an important part to everything that we do,” the mayor said. “It is National Dolphin Day. What a great choice of day to dedicate this statue … millions of people are going to drive by this intersection and see this statue over the coming years. We can all be very proud of the accomplishment. Moving forward with public art in Ocean City is what makes this a well-rounded, more-livable community.”

According to Turner, the concept of Dance of the Dolphins started a couple years ago.

“I am honored to have it [sculpture] here in Ocean City. In April, the dolphins come into the waters on the bayside and into the Chesapeake. They

are here. I love them because of their sinuous curves they are a great sculptural subject … I am truly honored to be here today,” Turner said.

Honorary Chairs Michael and Marilyn James of the Carousel Group came forward to accept a $10,000 donation from Hale and Alberta Harrison of the Harrison Group.

“We are very excited about this very beautiful piece of art. In our business, we spend a lot of time focusing on arrival, and for this main gateway of Ocean City to have this [sculpture] is a wonderful thing. It takes a commitment of both time and money to have something so beautiful, so today we are asking everybody to do whatever they can, time wise or contributions wise,” Michael James said.

The Harrisons and Kim Messick of Donaway/Bethany Resort Furnishings have made donations of $10,000 giving them the opportunity to name two of the dolphins, leaving only one dolphin left to be sponsored. Along with naming the remaining dolphin, a Diamond Sponsor will receive a numbered and dated replica of the statue and the donor’s name will be engraved on a bronze plaque that will be placed on the base of the sculpture.
The Platinum Level of $5,000 donations will give donors a numbered and dated replica of the statue and the donor’s name will be displayed on a bronze plaque on the brick wall in the Dance of the Dolphins Plaza.
The Gold Level of a $2,500 donation will five donors a print of a watercolor of the Dolphin Statue and Plaza, and the donor’s name will be displayed on a bronze plaque on the brick wall in Dance of the Dolphins Plaza.
The Silver Level of $1,000 donation will have the donors name displayed on a bronze plaque in Dance of the Dolphins Plaza as well as the donor will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win one of two prizes and a numbered and dated replica of the statue or the original watercolor of the Dolphin Statue Plaza.

For more information visit OCdolphins.com.