Friends of the Dog Fountain South Main Plaza have announced a community celebration to mark its fifth anniversary, inviting artists to apply for participation in a special exhibit showcasing fountain-inspired works.
According to Mount Vernon Nazarene University, artists are encouraged to submit proposals for fountain-inspired artwork by July 1, 2025. Submissions in all media are welcome, provided they are family-friendly and gallery-ready. Artists may submit up to five pieces electronically, including photographs. Notifications of acceptance will be sent by July 8, with accepted works required to be delivered on July 17 or 18. The exhibit is scheduled to run from July 28 to August 28, 2025, at the Schnormeier Gallery and The Annex in Mount Vernon. A reception will take place on August 1 during the First Friday event, and the exhibit will be part of the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival from August 7 to 10. It was noted that no artwork will be sold during the show and submissions from artists under 18 require parental consent.
The dog fountain at South Main Plaza was inspired by Claude Cormier’s design in Toronto’s Berczy Park. It features painted cast aluminum figures of various animals including dogs, a cat, birds, a pony, and an apple. Robinson Iron in Alabama created the molds for these figures. Each animal was cast from multiple pieces; for instance, the golden retriever consists of 80 separate parts. These were welded together, primed, and hand-painted by Jeff Ritchie, an artist from Mansfield known for his work on carousel horses. The design was based on site visits by Cormier and executed with local support.
South Main Plaza's revitalization received funding through a grant from The Ariel Foundation and ongoing support from community sponsors as well as an endowment at the Knox County Foundation that includes a matching contribution of up to $125,000. Naming rights and sponsorships for individual animals and benches remain available. Primary sponsors include The Ariel Foundation along with Karen and Tom Spaulding and Samuell families among others who funded specific figures. Additional contributions came from individual supporters and groups such as pet celebration donors and bench sponsors.
