Plans for art installation evolving
David Lepo, president of Lepo Works, is an artist. Deborah Fischer, treasurer of Riverside Art Center and special projects, is president of First on the Moon, Inc. So it made sense when the two met Friday morning at the intersection of Auglaize and Perry Streets to talk about art, where Lepo listened to Fischer about the public art piece proposed by First on the Moon, Inc.
"You don't allow your egos or anything to get in the way of this stuff," Lepo said. "You listen and facilitate their needs."
When completed, the piece will have three key components to it.
First is a 7 ft., 3-D space helmet made of aluminum with a visor of polished stainless steel, which is meant to allow visitors to participate in the artwork.
"It draws them in to a theme and a historical lesson," he said.
The next is an 18 in. by 14 in. granite foot imprint which visitors can put their foot in.
"A child or anybody can put their foot into it, and have… not only that photographic moment, but that experience," Lepo said.
He believes because photographs are easily distributed, that will draw more people to Wapakoneta.
The third piece is an 8 ft. by 4 ft. granite rock/memorial stone with both images of the moonwalk and etches about the history of it.
Lepo and his brother - Robert first heard about the project from Fischer.
"As a group, we had some money that we had generated, we had earned, from the 50th anniversary celebration," Fischer said. "We knew that the old hotel [Koneta Inn apartments] was going to be available, and we thought it would be a great addition to the community to do a art project."
So Fischer and her committee started looking for local artists who "would be like-minded with us."
Following 5-6 months worth of conversations, phone calls and other communications, the committee decided to commission the Lepo brothers.
"They listened to our needs and what we wanted," she said.
Because materials for the project aren't easy to access, Lepo hopes
to have the project completed within a year, and is aiming for July 2022 to coordinate with next year's Summer Moon Festival.
The artwork will be in the same area as the Gold Start Family Memorial.
Fischer wouldn't speculate on costs, but did say it would be an engaging product.
"It's like a feeling, it's an experience," she said.
"It's going to be like a history lesson for people," Lepo said. "Most people need that and they enjoy that I think."