5,000 pound ‘Metamorphosis’ sculpture reappears

APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – The Houdini-inspired ‘Metamorphosis’ sculpture that left from the Houdini Plaza a decade ago has reappeared at a plaza along the Fox River.

According to the Appleton Post-Crescent, the sculpture was donated to the City of Appleton in 1985 where it was showcased at the Houdini Plaza until 2010. However, due to the base of the sculpture deteriorating, it was removed and kept in storage.

Now, after 10 years, the estimated 5,000-pound artwork has found its new permanent home located on the south end of the Lawe Street bridge in Appleton.

“It is a challenge to move a sculpture from its original location where the artist is essentially designed for it for that site and then find another location that is fitting,” Executive Director of Sculpture Valley, Alex Schultz, who had been working on getting ‘Metamorphosis’ back into the public eye since 2013, told Local 5.”(finding a location) that’s appropriate, that doesn’t look like you’re just trying to find a place for an old sculpture.”

The Appleton Post-Crescent reports that Artist of ‘Metamorphosis’ Richard C. Wolter is said to have designed the sculpture as a tribute to illusionist Harry Houdini’s famous trick in which he escaped from a chain-bound trunk.

by: Brenda Ordonez

Posted:Jun 30, 2020 / 05:17 PM CDT/Updated:Jun 30, 2020 / 06:00 PM CDT