Ellen Hixon – Statue Artist: Mike Martino Location: Grandad Bluff – Grandad Bluff Rd. La Crosse, WI 54601 This statue is dedicated to Ellen Hixon, the widow of Gideon C. Hixon, who was responsible for saving Grandad Bluff and Hixon Forest after a developer began turning it into a rock quarry. In 1909, Ellen began a public… Read more »
Confluence Artist: John Pugh Location: 119 King St, La Crosse, WI 54601 West facing wall of the Pump House Regional Arts CenterOn this mural, you will find the faces of ordinary La Crosse residents which include: the college-aged artist, the group of Hmong women, the Ho-Chunk elder, and the German frau serving steins of beer. You will find their… Read more »
Ribbon V – Sculpture Artist: Stephan Fischer Location: UW-La Crosse, 1725 State Street The non-objective COR-TEN steel sculpture was designed to resist corrosion and age with a luminous red brown patina. The interpretation of the subject is up to the viewer’s own imagination. Part of Stephan Fischer’s monumental sculpture ribbon series, his works can be… Read more »
Reflections Artist: Paul T. Granlund Location: La Crosse Public Library, 800 Main Street Created in 1979. Made of cast and fabricated bronze, the fountain-based sculpture depicts a tranquil female figure. The statue is located in a fountain outside of the La Crosse Public Library. It shows a young woman resting on top of a carved… Read more »
Mary of the Angels Chapel Numerous Sculptures! Location: St. Rose Convent, 715 9th Street South The bronzed wooden statues located at the intersection of the nave, transepts, and sanctuary reflect three great periods in Christian history: nearest the ceiling are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, all prophets of the Hebrew scriptures. At each side of… Read more »
Artist: Unknown Location: Main Street, Civic Plaza Le Pineau is a sculpture of a boy pulling a thorn from his foot. This was a gift from La Crosse’s sister city, Epinal, France. It is symbolic of Epinal, whose name derives from the French word epine, meaning thorn. The sculpture is a replica of a… Read more »
Lyra Artist: Bruce White Location: Burns Park This aluminum sculpture consists of three legs that intertwine to create an interlocking abstract design. Originally painted blue, the sculpture that was dedicated in 1980, now maintains a brown patina. Bruce White’s sculptures are created out of materials that lend themselves to permanence. His outdoor sculptures can be… Read more »
La Crosse Players Artist: Elmer Peterson Location: Main Street, Civic Plaza Welded COR-TEN steel, life-size Native American figures engage in the game played on the prairie in this vicinity and for which La Crosse is said to be named. Elmer Peterson is best known for his sculpture “World’s Largest Buffalo” in Jamestown North Dakota. La… Read more »
King Gambrinus Artist: Unknown Location: City Brewery Watching over the World’s Largest Six Pack, King Gambrinus is a concrete sculpture painted beautifully. The Gambrinus story originated in Holland and Belgium, where he was considered the patron figure of brewers. The Heileman Company purchased the sculpture in 1939 from a non-operational brewery. Heileman bought the 15-foot… Read more »
Invitation to Imagination Artist: Michael Martino Location: Onalaska Public Library, 741 Oak Avenue South A cast bronze sculpture shows a boy literally leaping off the pages of a book. The sculpture, installed in 2010, aims to encourage children to read. The book pages have an inscription that reads: “Come with me and we shall see… Read more »
