City, Tourism & IRONMAN Officials to be Available
St. George, Utah (March 10, 2021) – The roundabout at Main and Tabernacle Streets in St. George is about to see a familiar symbol become a more permanent fixture. It’s an icon that has become known all over the world and in a very personal way to the citizens of Washington County for the past 10 years. As a precursor to the IRONMAN 70.3 North American Pro Championship race in May and the area’s first IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in September, a symbolic IRONMAN M-dot sculpture is set to be installed on Saturday morning.
A meet-and-greet introductory event will take place at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 15 at the site of the sculpture. Executives from the IRONMAN team will be in attendance, including Diana Bertsch, Senior Vice President World Championship Events, who will oversee the 70.3 World Championship race in September. Key public officials and IRONMAN representatives will provide brief remarks at the gathering and will be available for interviews.
“We live in a land of endurance, and we host one of the most scenic and challenging endurance races on earth,” said Kevin Lewis, Director of the Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office. “Across the globe, this race showcases the characteristics of the area and the enduring qualities of people who live here. This new work of art is a symbol of all that this event means to our community and a tribute to what our community inspires in race participants all over the world.”
Built by Rick and Josh Prazen, the sculpture has four sides, featuring a part of the triathlon – swim, bike, and run – on each of three sides, and the IRONMAN logo on the fourth. “We are very honored to have this sculpture showcased to the world,” said sculpture artist Josh Prazen. It has been an incredible experience, especially working with the city and the Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office to bring this vision to life.”
The piece was commissioned cooperatively by the Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office and the City of St. George to further the IRONMAN legacy, and pay tribute to St. George as an established IRONMAN destination. Over 10 years the annual event has brought nearly $100 million in direct economic impact to the area. The sculpture will be a centerpiece for the celebrations surrounding the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship coming September 17 and 18. It will serve as a focal point for photography, media coverage, selfies and other memories, as it graces the finish line.
The sculpture joins more than 30 original pieces and 3D works of art are being installed in St. George this month, courtesy of the Art Around the Corner Foundation. The M-dot will be on display in the round-about throughout 2021, then moved to a permanent location to commemorate the World Championship Event.
Photos of the in-shop creation of the sculpture, as well as photos and footage of the installation (happening Saturday) will be available at https://bit.ly/3v7BmkM.
About Greater Zion
Located in the southwest corner of Utah, Greater Zion is a destination that offers more than 2,400 square miles of adventure and inspiration. Zion National Park, the fourth most visited National Park in the United States, is the premier attraction, but Zion is only the beginning.
Home to the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, Greater Zion is a world-class destination for sporting events, conferences and meetings. The Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office is a transient-room-tax-funded entity of Washington County, Utah.
About St. George
The hub of Southern Utah, St. George is surrounded by gorgeous red cliffs, manicured green golf courses, and 300 days of sunshine each year. The city bustles with many specialty shops, an enclosed mall, the Dixie Convention Center, a hospital with a world-class cancer research center, St. George Regional Airport, and many fine dining establishments.
About Art Around the Corner
Since 2004, the Art Around the Corner Foundation (a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) has partnered with the City of St. George to select and install high-end public art in the Historic Downtown district, with new installations taking place in April of each year. In 2019, the footprint of the AACF outdoor sculpture gallery expanded to include installations at St. George City Hall, Dixie Regional Medical Center, and other sites, making art available for the larger community to enjoy and appreciate. In its 16 years of existence, the Art Around the Corner has facilitated nearly $1 million in sales of public art, while the City of St. George and Washington County have purchased numerous sculptures for their permanent collections.
About the artists: Richard and Josh Prazen
Richard Prazen is a third generation blacksmith and has widely influenced the metal artistic community for the last 20 years. Richard and his son, Josh, combined to create the majestic IRONMAN art piece. Richard currently oversees the metal art program for Salt Lake Community College and enjoys sharing his knowledge of this almost lost trade. Richard’s company, Reflections From The Forge, can accommodate any commissioned sculpture piece, large and small, from contemporary to realistic, as well as artistic two dimensional wall murals, custom furniture, and any other challenging concept in metal. His work includes birds of prey, Native American and Christmas art.
For more information, please visit GreaterZion.com
For more information on the St. George IRONMAN, visit:
https://www.ironman.com/im703-st-george and www.facebook.com/IMStGeorge
