The timeless theme of a child and her first dog has been captured in wood and is the latest outdoor sculpture of the Downtown Boone Development Association’s public-art program.

Perched next to the Bead Box and town hall on King Street, the sculpture is composed of small, locust-wood pieces screwed together to portray a dog sitting at the feet of a little girl.

Virginia-based sculptor Charlie Brouwer finishes installing his constructed-wood sculpture “Now What?” — the latest entry in the Downtown Boone Development Association’s public-art program along King Street in Boone on Friday. Photo by Jason Reagan

Built by Charlie Brouwer of Willis, Va., the sculpture is titled “Now What?” and stems from a memorable event in his parenting past.

Several years back, when his oldest daughter got her first dog, Brouwer said, “The people left the dog off with her. She stood in the living room — looking at the dog, the dog looking at her and she said ‘Now what?’”

An artist for 35 years, Brouwer has been sculpting outdoor pieces for the last eight years.

He chose locust wood because of its durability and weather resistance — a popular choice among farmers for fence posts.

“They say it will last 100 years,” he said.

The DBDA discovered Brouwer due to his previous entries in Appalachian State’s Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition. Brouwer won the 1991-92 competition and entered a sculpture in the 1995 competition.

Currently, his piece titled “Pilgrim” is on display in the Rosen competition next to the Duck Pond on campus.
The public-art program rotates sculptures on display from local and regional artists on two concrete pads beside town hall.

“Now What?” replaces “Learn to Fly,” a two-part metal sculpture by Brian Glaze.

Past sculptures included “Amplexari” and “Ferreus Intumus” by Moncure artist Kevin Eichner.

Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, Norman Cheek’s Toyota of Boone, Eggers, Eggers, Eggers and Eggers Attorneys at Law, Watauga Insurance. Agency, and Mast General Store were initial sponsors of the project

To make a donation to the public art project, contact the DBDA at (828) 262-4532.

Melanie Davis contributed to this report.