There are many of these so I’m disappointed that I couldn’t find a previous thread on them, and that this is the one I’m launching this new thread with…
> # New Century welcomes new sculpture
‘Tai Chi Animal Frolics’ created by local artists
- Sep 9, 2026
- 0
Tai Chi Animal Frolics, a public art sculpture created by local artists Gene Delcourt and Christian Felland, is now on display in Century School Park.
The City of Verona is pleased to announce the installation of Tai Chi Animal Frolics, a public art sculpture created by local artists Gene Delcourt and Christian Felland and commissioned by Gerri Gurman. The sculpture is now on display in Century School Park, at the corner of Art House 360 on West Verona Avenue.
Approved by the Verona Common Council on May 11, the sculpture was installed on August 26 by the City of Verona Parks and Forestry crew, who also prepared the site for the artwork, according to a city news release.
Carved from a reclaimed ash tree, the sculpture stands approximately seven feet tall and depicts animals inspired by traditional Tai Chi movements. The sculpture was donated to the City by Gerri Gurman, a teacher, dancer, choreographer, and performer.
“When an ash tree fell in my backyard, I had the insight to create a Tai Chi Animal Frolics tree,” Gurman said. “I wanted the Tai Chi Animal Frolics to live on.”
Gerri Gurman moved to Wisconsin in 1971 and has dedicated much of her career to education and the arts. She commissioned Gene Delcourt and Christian Felland to create the sculpture.
“This is one of the most important things, in my perspective, that I’ve done in my life,” Gurman said. “I really wanted it to go to a place where everyone is welcome, everyone is included, and everyone can do art. This is the perfect place.”
Gene Delcourt, a sculptor and retired teacher, is recognized for his wood carving and sculptures inspired by the natural world. Retiring in 2024 from a 28-year career with the Madison Metropolitan and Monona Grove school districts, he began carving full time.
“We had the green light to fully interpret the tree and envision where the animals would fit within the piece,” he said. "It’s very rewarding now to see it fully installed.”
Delcourt also hopes the sculpture inspires future generations of artists and carvers.
“I would really like young people to see this and say, ‘I want to learn how to do that,’” he said. “That’s a big hope for me, to get young people interested in this art form.”
Christian Felland, a local Madison artist and wood carver for eight years, said, “I love that it has such a prominent place here at Art House 360. It’s going to get a lot of eyes, and hopefully the City of Verona is going to love it."
City staff and project partners intend to pursue grant funding for additional educational and interpretive elements, including signage about the artists, donors and the Tai Chi movements represented in the sculpture, as well as native landscaping around the installation. Proposed signage would be offered in English, Ojibwemowin and Mandarin to reflect the cultural themes connected to the project.
A public dedication ceremony for the Tai Chi Animal Frolics tree is planned for the coming months.
