A regional artist is looking to raise more than $150,000 in the next 58 days to create a larger-than-life bronze sculpture in the likeness of a young Bob Dylan.
Tom Page of Cohasset is using Kickstarter, the popular crowd-sourcing website, to find backers for the project that will show the musician standing atop a rock playing guitar, his coat blowing in the wind. It is expected to stand about 12 feet 6 inches tall and will include bronze nameplates listing Dylan's studio albums.
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"I've done quite a few public sculptures in the past and Dylan was someone that nobody had touched or done anything with," Page said. "Anybody with a 50- or 60-year legacy deserves recognition -- especially when you look at his accomplishments."
Page said that if the project is funded at $159,000, it will be given to the city of Duluth for placement.
Mayor Don Ness is featured in a video on the Dylan by Duluth Kickstarter page, where he lends his support to the project.
"I support this project as a way for our city to recognize our most accomplished native son and to celebrate Duluth authentic arts and music ethos, inspired by the place we call home," Ness said on the video.
Page said he is asking for an amount of money that will cover the cost of supplies, transportation, construction and more. He's is looking for interested contributors beyond Northeastern Minnesota.
"I think (Dylan's) reach is a global one," he said. "We are making an effort to let as many people that appreciate his artistry be a part of it as possible."
Kickstarter is an all-or-nothing way of fundraising. If Page and his team don't hit the goal of $159,000, none of the contributors pay. There are incentives for donating ranging from engraved acknowledgements on the sculpture to small scale replicas of the work.
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The artist doesn't have a backup plan if the project doesn't hit its goal.
"If it doesn't get funded, we'll look for another way to get it done," he said. "I'll look for alternative means of funding. I really don't have a plan B. There are some options in mind, but I wouldn't consider it a plan B yet. I'm truly hoping it reaches its goal.
"I think we're going about it the best way possible: A free will giving of people who appreciate his artistry."
Page has done other large scale work. He was commissioned to design a tribute at the Blandin Paper Company in Grand Rapids in honor of its centennial celebration in 2000-2001. He also has a piece called "Timber Cruiser" at Michigan Tech.
The Kickstarter campaign ends Aug. 1. As of Monday night, the project had about 16 backers and had raised just more than $1,000.
