catalyst continues to captivate and inspire visitors
by Tania Said
This year, Minnetrista Museum & Gardens’ emblematic sculpture and symbol, Catalyst, recently celebrated its 20th year. This marks a major milestone for Catalyst as well as for the identity of our organization.
For many people in our community, Catalyst is as much a part of Minnetrista as the historic homes, Heritage Collection, gardens, and apple cider, but you may not know its important background. At the 2004 dedication of Catalyst, Board of Trustees Chairman Stefan Anderson said, “The Minnetrista mission today focuses on celebrating our region’s natural and cultural heritage. Now this remarkable sculpture becomes the center symbol for this important mission.”
Virginia B. Ball, wife of Minnetrista founder Edmund F. Ball, is credited with leading the project and locating the artist, Beverly Stucker Precious. She searched for artists across the country, only to find the right artist already in Indiana!
Mrs. Ball stated, “The commission of this sculpture is the most appropriate way I can think of to honor my late husband, Edmund F. Ball. Minnetrista is the result of his commitment to stewardship, giving, and partnership. It is my hope that Catalyst will continue to inspire the community to achieve great things.” Upon acceptance of the gift of Catalyst, the Minnetrista Board of Trustees found it appropriate to honor both Ed and Virginia.
To create this iconic piece, Precious considered the site from every angle before building a maquette, or scale model, of the sculpture. In the 2005 documentary Catalyst, co-sponsored by Minnetrista and the Tell-a-Vision Grant Program at Ball State, Precious noted the constant struggle between the beauty and practicality of her art. The careful balance of dichroic glass, steel, and Indiana limestone make Catalyst a captivating piece.
Since its installation, Catalyst has been illuminated under the watchful eye of Randy Gowin, Minnetrista’s Director of Maintenance. Gowin participated in the original installation and worked with the lighting designer to properly light the sculpture; since then, he has carefully maintained the spotlights and upgraded the ground lighting. Minnetrista’s Horticulture team complements the piece with beautiful and expertly designed seasonal plantings and displays. To keep Catalyst looking its best, Minnetrista restored the piece in 2019. This process included replacing the glass and cleaning and repairing the steel.
Olaf Larson, Minnetrista’s Director of Grounds & Facilities, recalls, “Catalyst and I arrived at Minnetrista the same year. I remember watching the cranes that suspended the sections of the sculpture while they were attached to the limestone base and connected to each other at the top. I also got to help plant the first annual flower display under the sculpture after installation was complete.” He also notes that Jim Tuttle, a retired welder and Minnetrista volunteer, crafted the matching brushed metal frame for the sculpture’s interpretive sign in the front window of the lobby.
“As the sculpture was to be a tribute to the spirit of Edmund F. Ball, I was given several publications about Mr. Ball, the Ball Corporation, and Minnetrista. As I read through the materials, three words came to mind: partnership, giving, and stewardship.
As the designs developed, two possibilities emerged. One was more staid and conservative, but a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much to the community. The second design, Catalyst, sprang out of my drawing tablet with movement, vitality, and strength.
The piece will be ever-changing from morning to night and from January to June.”
Over the years, countless people have developed their own memories and interpretation of Catalyst. Former Ball State Telecommunications Professor Nancy Carlson oversaw the production of the 2005 documentary and describes how much she loves the story of the sculpture’s development. When she looks at the piece, she sees two figures flying toward each other and thinks of Ed and Virginia touching, as if they were a catalyst between art and community. Much like a catalyst promoting change in chemistry, Carlson views Minnetrista as taking on a similar role in the community.
Although she never saw the finished piece, Virginia Ball’s final gift to Minnetrista and the community lives on. Her daughter Nancy Ball Keilty states, “I hope this beautiful and unique vision of my mother, so expertly crafted by Beverly Precious, will serve to remind, inspire, and encourage all of you that you, too, can facilitate positive change. I think that’s what my mother had in mind right from the start.”
Today, Catalyst inspires other works of art in the community, including the 2023 wall installation Everlasting, located in the lobby of The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County. The sprawling stainless steel tree glistens with leaves made of dichroic glass, visually demonstrating the organization’s wide-reaching commitment to the community. Sound familiar? To celebrate our shared history, Minnetrista offered the Foundation some of the original Catalyst glass removed during the sculpture’s restoration.
Additional sculptures by Beverly Stucker Precious can be enjoyed across the country—and in local Hoosier counties. Stop by the lawn of Krannert Memorial Library at University of Indianapolis to see Universal Continuum and visit the gateway to the Madison-Milton Bridge in Madison, Indiana to view River’s Edge.
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