Whimsical rock chucks pop up in downtown Redmond

Rock chucks are taking over downtown Redmond this summer.

Twenty uniquely decorated rock chuck statues had their big reveal Wednesday evening, before being scattered throughout downtown businesses. The animal was chosen because they’re a staple in the area.

“We thought it was kind of an iconic little animal that we see in Redmond all the time,” said Linda Gilmore Hill, chair of the Redmond Committee for Arts in Public Places.

Each statue has been painted, decorated and embellished by local artists.

For RCAPP, this project has been four years in the making. When they first commissioned a rock chuck sculpture, the original design missed the mark.

“It’s laying down, like we see them a lot in the grass,” Hill said. “And we all got together and said, ‘No, we need to be more whimsical.’ And this way, with the ones that we have that are standing up, there’s more surface to decorate, and they are whimsical now.”

Betty Jo Simmons designed the new look from a block of wood.

“It’s hand carving. So it’s tools and a mallet, chopping it out, shaping it and then sanding it,” Simmons said.

Many cities use fiberglass for their sculpture programs. Redmond had to find a more cost-effective method. Volunteers stepped up, donating their time, abilities and some materials to produce polystyrene chucks, at a fraction of the price.

The statues will be placed around local businesses Thursday for everyone to enjoy.

“Public art enhances our environment,” Simmons said. “It’s not always serious, it can be fun. And getting the whole community involved in this is what’s made it fun.”

The exhibit runs through August 19, when the rock chucks will be auctioned off.

More information can be found at the Redmond committee’s Facebook page, at https://www.facebook.com/RedmondPublicArt/