United Tribe Technical College students made a presentation to the Bismarck Park Board on construction of a fourth eagle-related sculpture to be funded by the park district and built by the students over the summer.

Three of the bigger-than-life sculptures have been completed, and three more remain to be built. The first, Thunderbird, is found at the Lewis and Clark landing under the Grant Marsh Bridge. Others are located at Sertoma Park and Steamboat Park.

UTTC instructor Wayne Pruse updated the park board on the project. He said that vandalism has been a problem, particularly with the ones located at Steamboat Park and Sertoma. Last year's artwork, featuring a giant chrome-covered gazing ball, was pushed from its base the day before its unveiling. Pruse said it appeared that vandals were trying to push the ball into the river. While there has been some damage to the Sertoma project, the Thunderbird has remained relatively unscathed but does need some caulking.

Vandalism isn't uncommon for public artwork of this nature, Pruse said.

"You can't think about it, otherwise you just wouldn't do public artwork. Somebody is going to try and climb it, get up on it, break it," Pruse said. "You try to make it as indestructible as you can. The Thunderbird has really held up well."

The students will make what repairs they can, but the expense has been coming from the UTTC budget.

"We can't continually absorb the cost," Pruse said. "Perhaps we can get some insurance. Security should also go into place, or this (vandalism) is just going to continue to happen."

This year's project was designed from UTTC student David Blackcloud, of Standing Rock. He described it as a free-standing relief structure, which is titled "Rising Eagle."

"I thought about the vandalism at the others when coming up with my idea and tried to create something that is durable and long-lasting," Blackcloud said.

There will be a 20-foot in diameter circular wall with area for seating inside and a picturegraph of an eagle.

"It's circular in shape to reflect nature, symbolizing the earth and that all people are welcome here," Blackcloud said.

District director Steve Neu said the proposed site for the project is the Double Ditch trailhead at Pioneer Park.

"This is a heck of an opportunity for students to take something this big this far," Pruse said. "There's no instant gratification here. We started work in January on preliminary designs. It's been engineered, and we built a model. This isn't done in a couple of weeks. It's tough to keep your enthusiasm up with a piece that won't be done until the fall."

There have been students that have gone on to do large sculptures in other communities, Purse said. Through this project they find out if this is the kind of work they want to pursue.

Pruse thanked the park board for its support and also the subcontractors that have helped with past projects. He noted their willingness to help and train the students, along with donating some of the materials.

Park board President Mark Zimmerman said the district will look over the project in the next few weeks, knowing that the class does have to meet a schedule to be able to complete the project.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)