Summer is a great time to explore the art spread across the Ada community – especially for viewers unable to visit art galleries elsewhere in Ohio.

As a weekly series, The Icon will feature the art located on The Remington Walk on the Ohio Northern University campus. For some viewers, this series is familiar. For others, it may be a first-time experience. 

Either way, it’s an opportunity to take a walk and view some art that is uniquely Ada. The Walk is spread through campus and may be viewed by following the ONU walking path, beginning near Affinity Village, west of The Freed Center.

The cast bronze reproductions include 10 by Frederick Remington, “Stagecoach,” by Charles Russell, and “End of the Trail,” by James Frazer.

The information about the Remington Walk is provided by ONU.

Today’s feature
“Stagecoach” is ONU’s only piece by Charles Russell and depicts his keen eye for horse and human anatomy combined with a sense of humor (note: the little pot belly of the stage driver) and the action of a stagecoach on a wild ride. 

The artist
Charles Russell, 1864-1926, was born to moderate wealth in St. Louis and came to Montana at age 16 with a dream of becoming a cowboy. 

He was a self-taught artist and although his early drawings were crude they reflected an observant eye. He had a feel for animal and human anatomy, a sense of humor and a flair for portraying action. 

He married Nancy Cooper and she provided the business sense and drive that eventually made her unambitious husband one of America’s most popular artists. 

Russell went into illustration about the time Remington was getting out of it to concentrate on painting. 

Like Remington, he felt deeply the passing of the West with a deep sense of loss. His public demanded authenticity, which he combined with a soul of a romantic. 

The Remington Walk background
The Walk was a gift to ONU from Jim and Eilleen Dicke of New Bremen, Ohio. It was dedicated at the 2007 homecoming.

Sites for each sculpture were selected by Toby Baker, wife of the president of ONU at the time of creation of this series, with the assistance of Tony Wolke, director of Grounds and Assistant Director of Physical Plant at ONU.