About the Artist
Following a 1-credit experiential learning course at Muskegon Community College, titled "The Art of the Civil War," in which students were taken on a extended weekend-long bus trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; twenty-year-old Ari Norris wrote a life-changing letter to nationally recognized sculptor Gary Casteel.
Being the last living artist to produce a monument on the expansive Gettysburg National Military Park, Casteel served as one of the course's several in-person "experiences." The group of students joined Gary for an on-site presentation at his sculpture of General James Longstreet, followed by a studio visit to view works in progress.
In the weeks following the meeting, Norris began drafting a request to Gary - to become the seventy-year-old artist's first-ever apprentice. Upon receiving Norris' letter, the pair had a life-changing phone call.
Norris would go on to join Casteel in Pennsylvania for two subsequent summer-sessions, by the end of which saw the groundwork being laid for Norris' first bronze commission, the Doris Rucks Memorial Sculpture at Muskegon Community College.
Norris has recently completed Band Together, his largest commission to date, on October 20th, 2023. Representing Muskegon Heights High School's tradition of exuberantly high-stepping Marching Band Drum Majors, this double life-size sculpture is a prominent feature of Rowan Park and the surrounding community.
Resume
2023
Band Together - Marching Band Drum Major, at Rowan Park. Muskegon Heights, MI
2022
Paul Anderson & Lennis Moore Memorial Busts, Midwest Old Settlers & Threshers Association. Mt. Pleasant, IA
2020
Denny Craycraft Memorial Sculpture, Vietnam Era U.S. Soldier, and K-9 War Dog, at Denny Craycraft Veterans Freedom Park. Belding, MI
2018
Clarence Zylman, Muskegon's Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Memorial Sculpture, at LST 393 Veterans Museum. Muskegon, MI
Doris Rucks Memorial Sculpture, at Muskegon Community College. Muskegon, MI
R. David Zerhusen Bas-Relief, Catholic Order of Foresters National Headquarters. Naperville, IL
2017
Second summer-long apprenticeship with sculptor Gary Casteel. Gettysburg, PA
2016
First summer-long apprenticeship with sculptor Gary Casteel. Gettysburg, PA
Press
2023
School. wzzm13.com. Web. Oct 20, 2023.
2022
muskegonchannel.com. Web. Dec 19, 2022.
Roberts, Andy. White Lake Beacon. "New "Band Together" statue planned in Muskegon Heights."
shorelinemedia.net. Web. Nov 18, 2022.
2020
Martin, Michael. Fox17. “Belding Veterans Park Unveils Several New Statues, Including of Founder.”
Sasiela, Evan. Ionia Sentinel-Standard. "Denny Craycraft Veterans Freedom Park in Belding Adds New
Monuments." Web. September 11, 2020.
2018
Center, Patrick. WGVU Public Media. "Muskegon's Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Forever Celebrated with Statue." Grand Valley State University. wgvunews.org. Web. Nov. 12, 2018.
Koryzno, Peter. Muskegon Community College. “Dr. Rucks Sculpture Created by MCC Alumnus Ari Norris.”
muskegoncc.edu. Web. September 27, 2018.
McQuire, Justine. MLive. “Muskegon’s Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Honored with Statue.” mlive.com.
McQuire, Justine. MLive. "Muskegon Community College Honors Late Human Rights Champion."
mlive.com. Web. September 27, 2018
O'Riley, Andy. Muskegon Channel. “Boogie Woogie Bugler Memorial Statue Unveiling.” muskegonchannel.com.
LST 393." muskegonchannel.com. Web. Sept. 28, 2018.
2017
Koryzno, Peter. “MCC Alumnus to Create Life-Size Sculpture of Famed Muskegon Musician.”
Reflections Magazine. Pub. Summer Issue, 2017.