South Columbus in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Marvel at the Works of Art

Photographed by Craig Doda, April 17, 2026

1. Marvel at the Works of Art Marker

Inscription. Schiller Monument
The park received its first installation of public art when residents commissioned a bronze sculpture of Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller. The nearly eleven-foot-high statue was cast at the Ferdinand von Miller Foundry in Munich, Germany. The details of Schiller's life and the work of art are posted on the fence surrounding the monument.

Umbrella Girl Fountain
Situated just south of the Grace Highfield Garden is the Umbrella Girl Fountain, sculpted and generously contributed by Columbus artist Joan Wobst in 1996. The piece replaced an 1872 statue, which disappeared sometime between World War II and the 1950s (depending on the version one is told). Today's Umbrella Girl is modeled after the artist's daughter Andrea and sports a dirndl, the typical dress of a young German girl.

Jerzy Kedziora Scultures
In 2019, a temporary exhibit featuring 18 sculptures by Jerzy Kedziora was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from the community. As a result, the Friends of Schiller Park raised the funds needed to commission "forever" sculptures by the artist for the park. Thanks to the generosity of

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the community the Friends were able to purchase five works of art.

Donors
Over 300 donors contributed to this effort, with the following individuals providing the lead gifts:
Extraordinary Friends of Schiller Park with dedication privileges:
Anonymous • Nancy Morbitzer Gross • Jim Nichols • The Friends of Schiller Park

Significant Friends of Schiller Park who provided the seed money:
Lisa and Christopher Barton • In tribute to Bernice Katz Jones • Leslie and Kurt Malkoff • Giancarlo Miranda and Tim Morbitzer • Janay Oakland and Nelson Heinrichs III • Susan Rector • Kristin Ryan • Lisa Stein and Craig Colvin • Peggy and Bob Walter • Kathy and Alec Wightman

About the Artist
Jerzy Kedziora (born 1947) is a sculptor, painter, designer, and teacher from Poland. He created the five sculptures that form the Schiller Park "Suspended" collection.

By honing the technical aspect of his craft, as well as focusing on the implicit meaning behind the work, Kedziora has achieved international success with his public art. From Abu Dhabi and Switzerland to Krakow, and now Columbus, he has strung his works which are a brilliant blend of classical

Photographed by Craig Doda, April 17, 2026

2. Marvel at the Works of Art Marker

sculpture and kinetic art.

Kedziora says "Art must get out of museums and reach the people."

A Loving Legacy
We will forever remember Andrea Esselstein's joyful response to the sculptures. She was a life-long Friend of Schiller Park from childhood sports participation and playground super-user to adult tour guide. Oh, how we miss her generous heart.

Erected by Friends of Schiller Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1996.

Location. 39° 56.524′ N, 82° 59.549′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is in South Columbus. It is at the intersection of City Park Avenue and East Deshler Avenue, on the right when traveling south on City Park Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 City Park Ave, Columbus OH 43206, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Scioto Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

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and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Join Friends of Schiller Park (here, next to this marker); Engage in Schiller Park (here, next to this marker); Discover the History Schiller Park (here, next to this marker); Gold Star Mothers (within shouting distance of this marker); Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Story of The Schiller Monument (about 300 feet away); Franklin County Soldiers of the Mexican War (about 300 feet away); The Rower, 2020 (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 26, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.