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Michelangelo - Eat Your Heart Out!

Folks driving along the Missouri River outside Bismarck, North Dakota, just might think they've encountered a creature from another galaxy or perhaps something that has escaped from a science-fiction movie set. Regardless, what they will be looking at will definitely grab their attention. It did ours.

Thanks to Dealer Paul Scherr of Aquatic Delites, located in Bismarck, we can share with you what has to be one of the most, if not THE most, unusual application of PermaCrete we have seen so far. You must admit, it's not your average pool deck or driveway. And "distinctive" would not begin to describe the sculpture Paul was instrumental in making a reality.

A concept created by the art-marketing students at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, the sculpture of four thunderbirds has recently been erected at Keelboat Park along the Missouri River. Each thunderbird represents a different section of the United States: Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, and Southeast. Working with the students to compliment his own unique creative talents, Paul made their 14-foot tall American Indian mythical creature "come to life", so to speak. And, of course, not just a little credit goes to Paul's fabulous use of PermaCrete.

"I made the figure in four sections from huge blocks of Styrofoam that I covered with fiber mesh and plaster," Paul explained. "Then using a color scheme designed by the students, I applied PermaCrete Matrix Mix, stain seal, and clear seal. It took quite a while to cover the entire piece. It's fourteen feet tall and twenty-one feet in diameter. And there's more nooks and crannies than anyone could imagine, unless, of course, you're one of the students." Then Paul's wife Anne shared more good news. "The Bismarck Parks and Recreation Board has commmissioned the college and us to create five more, all different, over the next five years," she said. "Looks like we'el be ordering a lot more PermaCrete."

Sounds great, and we're sure the Scherrs won't forget all those pool decks and driveways in the meantime. Congratulations to Paul and Anne for such fine work and for sharing it with us. You may also want to check out some of their other creations on their web site www.aquaticdelites.com.