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“Christopher,” a geometric sculpture by John Raimondi, is 50 years old. The artwork is located behind the L. C. Bates Museum in Hinckley. Contributed photo

HINCKLEY — The L. C. Bates Museum plans to have an outdoor 50th birthday party for “Christopher,” a geometric sculpture by John Raimondi, at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, at 14 Easler Road.

All are invited to attend and learn about the sculpture’s history and its creator. The sculpture is located outside, behind the museum.

There will be refreshments, and an art project will be available for children.

Raimondi, a world-renowned artist and collector now living in Florida, during the summer of 1971 was the artist in residence at the Haystack-Hinckley School of Crafts on the campus of Good Will-Hinckley. Raimondi both designed and built the welded Corten steel sculpture, the second in his series of geometric minimalist sculptures created during the 1970s.

When viewing the bronze Christopher sculpture by John Raimondi in the museum, people can look out the window and see the outdoor sculpture of Christopher. Contributed photo

Raimondi, then 24, lived on campus; students had the opportunity to work with him instead of attending their regular classes. Only one student, Christopher Desmond, took up the offer to assist the sculptor. Raimondi taught him how to weld and involved him in the creation of his sculpture.

Desmond’s dedication and determination inspired Raimondi to name the sculpture after him.

Since his time at the Haystack-Hinckley School, Raimondi has gone on to have a successful career as a monumental sculptor.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 207-238-4250.

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