Darter Sculpture Ribbon Cutting
Join the Upper Etowah River Alliance as the City of Canton and its Cultural Arts Commission cut the ribbon on Currents of Canton, a new sculpture of the Etowah darter at the western gateway of Heritage Park.
The Etowah darter is a small, endangered fish found nowhere else on Earth except the Etowah River system. The new sculpture, by artist Huelani Mei, celebrates it as a Canton landmark.
About the Sculpture
Currents of Canton is the Canton Cultural Arts Commission’s first public sculpture, chosen from a call for artists held last year.
- The darter stands about 8 feet tall, woven from metal rods in Mei’s distinctive line style.
- It swims through abstract metal “water” scrolls planted with native aquatic plants from the Etowah River.
- The hot-dipped galvanized finish is a nod to Canton’s industrial past. The piece is built to withstand the Etowah’s floods.
- The design also honors the Cherokee, who lived along the Etowah River.
“By celebrating a species found nowhere else on earth this sculpture becomes a defining placement at Heritage Park reflecting Canton’s history, environment and community.”
— Huelani Mei, artist
The sculpture was funded entirely by a private donation. Read the City of Canton’s announcement, or learn more about the Etowah’s darters.
Schedule
- 11:00 AM: Ribbon-cutting ceremony at Heritage Park
- After the ceremony: Lunch at B&B Social
Lunch at B&B Social
After the ceremony, anyone who would like to have lunch with the group is welcome to join us at B&B Social in downtown Canton.