South Bend Indiana’s oldest park is no relic of the past. Howard Park is instead a re-imagined destination for locals and visitors alike. Situated in downtown South Bend, along the majestic St. Joseph River, it’s a place to gather, play and explore its many activities and features. Visitors come to the park to take in the grandeur of the beautiful sculptures, set against Mother Nature’s crown jewel of South Bend Indiana, the St. Joseph River. The river meanders along the west edge of the park. There is something at Howard Park for every season, but there’s no doubt it shines brightest during the cold Indiana winter months. The Park’s centerpiece being the 16,000-square foot ice trail and pond that features rolling hills, soft curves and enchanting scenery. Whether you’re eight or eighty, you’ll find something to pique your interest that will keep you coming back season after season.

When the city’s Venues Parks & Arts Department called out for submissions of durable sculptural art pieces that could be placed throughout the park year-round, it was the perfect opportunity for local artist Brian “Huts” Hutsebout to showcase his talent working with steel and Hot Dip Galvanizing to create a breath-taking and durable sculpture.

Huts has an innate talent for creating and merging nature-inspired subjects with thought-provoking, industrial undertones. A challenge for Huts' vision was to create a durable yet moveable sculpture that would endure the Hot Dip Galvanizing process, as well as the extreme weather changes in Northern Indiana. His unique design, and knowledge of working with steel was put to the test as he took his art from conceptualization through design and manufacturing, to completion with Hot Dip Galvanizing. Due to the ornate design, the galvanizer had to take extra precautions to minimize distortion. Visitors to Howard Park will be able to observe and learn about the endless uses for Hot Dip Galvanizing not only as corrosion protection, but also as an alternative to other artistic media. Ode To A Cottonwood draws inspiration from the cottonwood trees growing along the banks of the majestic St. Joseph River. Cottonwood trees can be easily identified in a grove of trees by their deeply fissured bark and the way their leaves uniquely shimmer in the wind. This piece evokes many emotions from all who view it, and is a very impressive presence emphasizing Nature’s grandeur fusing with industrialization to create a symbiotic relationship. In contrast, the Industrial, galvanized materials bound tightly together reflect the rapidity of mass-production and overconsumption of natural resources – humans’ tight grasp on a wild force.