Save Indian Summer
Indian Summer is a gorgeous 9 1/2' statue of a Nez Perce Indian astride an Appaloosa. The statue is breaking down and needs restoration before if falls to ruin! On Hwy 49 in Coloma right across the street from Sutter Market. Tourist daily stop to take pictures and sometimes pose with him. Please help us keep this statue for everyone to enjoy in the years to come.
Indian Summer was made by Don Joslyn in 1974 for the Nez Perce County Courthouse in Lewiston, Idaho. Vandals damaged the sculpture in 1983, detonating a bomb that severely blasted the torso of the rider and the horse's neck. The artist Don Joslyn, brought it home to Coloma when it was replaced by a Bronze statue at the courthouse. Over the years tourist handling and weather have taken their toll. Restoration is needed ASAP.
Local Artist Georg Schmerholz is willing to restore the statue and owners Christina Griswold & Joel Sherwood are committed to maintaining its glory in front or their home in Coloma.
Restoration includes:
- visiting the bronze in Idaho, take lots of pics of all the details
- grind off all the white, and clean out all the old fillings/patching
- rebuild missing/broken parts, fill in cracks and fractures
- recoat the entire sculpture
- waterproof/seal
- Add statue name and artist information
- Devise a plan to keep tourists from climbing on the statue
History of the statue:
Artist Don D. Joslyn was an associate professor of art at Lewis-Clark State College when he was commissioned to create the sculpture for the Nez Perce County Courthouse. Indian Summer is 9 1/2-foot-tall concrete sculpture and was installed Oct. 1, 1974. (11 feet 2 inches from the bottom of the base to the tip of the outstretched hand)
The artist started by making drawings of what he'd like to see at the courthouse. In his original Indian Summer design, the Indian warrior was carrying a spear in his outstretched arm, Joslyn said. But to make the piece, Joslyn said he had to learn about the Nez Perce people. He found the Nez Perces to be "a peaceful, dignified, intelligent people," Joslyn said. He took away the spear, but left the arm and hand outstretched.
"So, this is a Nez Perce who is gesturing peace to all of you, to all of us," Josyln said. "So this signifies the Nez Perce people to me."
Joslyn's creation was a lasting tribute to the namesakes of the county. The Indian figure was a composite of photographs of Nez Perce Indians both living and dead. The horse was based on Appaloosas belonging to two Lewiston residents, Kermit H. Malcom and Rae Ann Mincher. The feather wristlet and horse halter were made of raised copper. Even the angle of the Indian's raised arm was repeated in the back leg of the horse.