JOSEPH A new sculpture was recently unveiled in front of the Joseph Post Office, making River Dance a 7-foot bronze of two jumping kokanee by local artist Tim Norman the youngest piece of art on a Main Street already populated with bronze.

Norman already had sculpted a desktop size version of River Dance, when he was approached by downtown business owners Rob Lamb and Kelly Wick last year about creating a monumental-sized piece for the spot in front of the post office.

Norman worked on the large bronze for over a year, modeling the male kokanee (the sculpture includes a male and a female) after the 9 lb. 10 ½ ounce world-breaker caught by Ron Campbell of Pendleton in June 2010. Norman showed off the in-progress sculpture in blue Styrofoam form at the Wallowa Lake Kokanee Festival a year ago.

Not only did Ron Campbell travel from Pendleton for the bronze unveiling July 20, with his wife Rita and other family members, he brought along his mounted record-breaker for display afterward at the new Norman Arts Studio gallerys grand opening.

Nickie Norman, Tims wife, said that Campbell was surprised and very moved by a generous gift from Rita at the gallery she purchased her husband one of a 25-edition of a life-sized River Dance bronze (it carries a price tag in the gallery of $12,000).

About 35 people gathered for the unveiling of the monumental-sized bronze fish.

While the Normans have donated the use of the bronze for Joseph enjoyment for as long as its wanted there, they paid for the casting and retain actual ownership.

The piece is the first of an edition of 15, according to Nickie Norman.

The 7-foot sculpture is on a 3-foot pedestal, which will be surrounded by rock by Terry Bates of Eastern Oregon Nursery.

Tim and Nickie Norman first started their Norman Arts business, which does all foundry work except for slurry and casting, in 1996. This summer they opened Norman Arts Gallery at 3 ½ Main St., Joseph, which exhibits Tims bronzes and the artwork of daughter-in-law Dawn Lepper Norman.

We want everyone young and old alike to feel welcome in our gallery, Nickie Norman said. Kids get really excited about the artwork and ask a lot of questions.  Its great to help them have this learning , growing experience.

Summer hours, through October, are  10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Winter hours havent been determined yet.