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"Leatherlips," our first Art
in Public Places project, was created by Boston artist Ralph Helmick
in 1990. The sculpture is a 12-foot high portrait of the Wyandot
Native American Chief Leatherlips. The head is a composite structure
of various sizes of native limestone stacked and mortared. The head
is open on the top and extended back along its sides, creating a
small enclosure which enables visitors a view of the river, the
sunset, and the amphitheater.
Local history relates that the Wyandot Native
American, Chief Leatherlips, was executed by fellow tribesman at
a location very near to Scioto Park. In fact, Chief Leatherlips'
last hunting camp is said to have been located 2 miles north of
Historic Dublin along the banks of the Scioto river near to the
exact location of the present day park. Early histories by the white
settlers of the time described the old Chief as intelligent, dignified
and peaceful.
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