The Shadow
If you’re in downtown Clifton Forge over the next few days, take a look at the five horses that have been placed on the roof of the Masonic Theatre.
The five sculptures are the creation of Mark Cline, a fiberglass sculptor from Enchanted Castle Studios in Natural Bridge who enjoys celebrating April Fool’s Day in unusual ways.
In past years, he designed sculptures like the flying saucer invasions near Lexington in 2001 that he designed from old satellite dishes, The Town That Time Forgot with dinosaurs positioned throughout the town of Glasgow in 2003, Foamhenge near Natural Bridge in 2004, Batman and Spiderman on Lexington buildings in 2008 and Hannibal crossing the Blue Ridge in 2009 near Waynesboro.
It took some doing to get the horses on the roof in Clifton Forge.
First the horses had to be pulled up onto the roof from the rear of the building, and the Clifton Forge Fire Department got an unusual training exercise for its new ladder truck by providing assistance.
They were then placed in strategic locations around the building.
Clifton Forge firemen placing the horses included Supt. Robbie Boyd, Chief Mark Nicely and John Fury of Sharon and Iron Gate fire departments. Wayne Lawson, owner of the One Stop Sign Shop, donated the time of his men to place the horses.
“I’ve enjoyed making smiles with my work,” Cline said of his April Fool’s sculptures. “Smiles turn to laughter, laughter heals, healing is healthy, and everybody wants that.” The horses will be in place for a month. (Buck Rumpf Photos)
