Stillson Helps Light the Path for Support of the Arts in Nappanee
EDITOR’S NOTE: Originally inspired by “Cows on Parade”—the 1999 Chicago-based art installation that featured over 300 life-size fiberglass cows—Nappanee’s Jeff Stillson envisioned and created the Nappanee Art Path 10 years ago. In Vibrant Communities’ Action Agenda 2.0, residents of Nappanee identified the community’s desire to continue engaging in their artistic community through more projects like the Nappanee Art Path. Champions of projects from Action Agenda 2.0, like the story you are about to read, are creating a difference in our communities every day and making residents’ wants become realities. To learn more about Action Agenda 2.0, including reading the report, visit our landing page here.
“Most folks don’t know this, but six nationally known cartoonists have come from Nappanee,” says Jeff Stillson, a longtime resident and NorthWood High grad. “I don’t know why that is, but there are definitely a lot of creative souls out here. Certainly, the arts have always been a big part of my life.
The Nappanee Art Path was just a personal project of mine. I wanted to do something like they did in Chicago for my hometown—art installations to brighten the landscape and inspire creativity. We started the public installations with a project inspired by apples, in honor of Nappanee’s history. We are, after all, home of the Nappanee Apple Festival, and one of the largest apple pies in the world.
After several years, Nappanee Mayor Phil Jenkins approached me about creating an arts commission for the city, which led to the creation of the Nappanee Arts Council.
There’s been even more movement toward making Nappanee known as an arts-friendly community—we now have the beautiful Nappanee Arts Center. The center is a place where artists of all ages and abilities can create art using a variety of mediums. It’s important to have a creative outlet.”
Starting with a vision, succeeding with support
“It’s been a thrill to see the Art Path grow, become an attraction, and become an entire plan for making Nappanee an arts-friendly community. Everyone, including myself, was pleasantly surprised at how this all took off.
This project succeeds thanks to the cooperation of the City of Nappanee, the Nappanee Arts Council, and Nappanee Parks and Recreation. We couldn’t do any of this without the community that supports us. We’re also deeply grateful to the Community Foundation of Elkhart County for providing matching grants that have allowed us to do so much.”
A destination spot
“The Art Path now has around 150 sculptures. We have rotating installations that spend time adorning our downtown and then come to the Art Path to be ‘retired’ for posterity. We have a whole ecosystem of sponsorships, installations, and events—including our upcoming Promenade on the Path celebration—that make this endeavor a big part of our community narrative. We’re also able to sponsor and support the work of area artists, so in a large sense, we have helped foster the growth of a sustainable community for the arts.
We started by simply trying to enhance a walking path, which is now a destination spot. Whether folks are walking, biking, hiking, or just walking through the woods, this is a place to see. We get a lot of visitors from out of town, and we get extra foot traffic. People are coming here, and they spend time visiting our merchants and businesses, and all of that is good for everyone in Nappanee.”
Any advice for upcoming Action Agenda projects?
“It’s important to implement community-driven projects throughout Elkhart County. I don’t know that I have specific advice on how to initiate quality-of-place projects. It’s not easy to grow new projects to fruition. For me, the key to making this all a reality has been the fact that I have so many relationships here in my hometown. People know me, and when I ask, I get good responses.
That’s something to consider for other areas looking to make a real community impact. It’s always good when the people involved—and coming up with the ideas—are people who know and understand that community.
In the end, working together for the benefit of a community is the key, and there’s a reward for all those involved. The impact of the Art Path has been significant, and has led to a lot of inspiration. Nappanee is somewhat unique in how it supports the arts, and I’m proud to have played a role in it.”
Jeff Stillson (top), a multimedia artist and longtime Nappanee resident, is the founder of the Nappanee Art Path. The Art Path, located along Oakland Avenue in Nappanee, currently features around 150 sculptures. The Art Path helped inspire the formation of the Nappanee Arts Council and the Nappanee Arts Center. Photos courtesy of Jeff Stillson and the Nappanee Art Path.
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