WAUPUN — Two sculptures for the 2025 Waupun Sculpture Tour were placed in Waupun two weeks ago, with the one downtown the subject of a small dedication ceremony Friday afternoon.
The dedication ceremony was held at the first Downtown Waupun First Friday Summer Series, which is a monthly summer event held at the downtown food truck alley and green space.
Maly gave a short speech on the Sculpture Tour Program, introducing the newest additions to both the temporary and permanent collections.
“The Waupun Sculpture Tour is more than just a walk among beautiful works of art—it’s a celebration of creativity, community, and the spirit of collaboration that defines our city,” Maly said in her speech. “Each piece on this year’s tour invites us to slow down, look closer, and appreciate the stories that sculptures bring to our public spaces.”
A life-sized bronze sculpture, “Catching the Wind,” can now be found at the front of the food truck alley in downtown Waupun. The sculpture depicts a young girl flying a kite overhead in a playful manner, which Maly described as “a symbol of hope, dreams, and the power of imagination.”
“What makes this sculpture even more meaningful is its connection to Clarence Shaler, a beloved Waupun innovator who was known for many things in our community but this one highlights his kite experimentations as a young child right here in our community,” Maly said.
“In honor of Shaler’s spirit of curiosity, creativity, and innovation, we proudly dedicate ‘Catching the Wind’ as the first chapter in telling Shaler’s story through the Waupun Sculpture Tour. This piece celebrates not only his love of kites but also his enduring impact on Waupun’s cultural landscape,” she said.
Maly then introduced the “Catching the Wind Community Campaign,” which aims to raise $15,100 to permanently purchase the sculpture for Waupun. This fundraiser campaign will be similar to one for the Rosie the Riveter statue, “We Can Do It,” currently located in front of National Rivet on Main St.
The event included live music, yard games, and ice cream treats from a food truck. It also included a taco stand by Go Dutch Solutions, with proceeds going to the “Catching the Wind” fundraiser.
Simultaneously, Green Collar Grooming was holding a 10th Anniversary celebration at their location on the corner of Madison St and Jefferson St, which went from 10AM to 6PM. This included a pop-up tent from Chippy’s Popcorn Creations, based in Beaver Dam.
Another Sculpture Tour piece titled “Oxbow” can be found at Horicon State Bank on the corner of Main St and Fox Lake Rd. This more abstract piece depicts the winding bends of a meandering river, creating oxbow shapes in its path.
The sculpture that was planned to be part of the sculpture tour, “Saturday Distraction”—which depicted a boy reading a book with a dog jumping on his leg—unfortunately failed to arrive. It was originally planned to be placed in front of the Waupun Heritage Museum, but a last minute mixup led to the sculpture being no longer available for the Waupun Sculpture Tour.
“Eddies and Etchings” is scheduled to arrive in Waupun by August, with a dedication ceremony planned after it arrives. A dedication ceremony for Rosie the Riveter/”We Can Do It” is expected for about the same time.
Three new sculptures, “Pilot’s Dream,” “Butterfly Dream,” and “Fly Away,” are also already slated for next year—and if enough funds are raised, to be purchased for the permanent collection.
The next events planned for the “Downtown Waupun Friday Summer Series” are scheduled for Friday, July 11, and Friday, August 1.
