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Self produced by DiPasquale in 1982 - 83, the fiberglass and resin rooftop sculpture was ultimately unveiled by Best Products for their DC store.
The original site was Connecticut and Calvert Street overlooking Rock Creek Park, the heart of DC's Indian Territory.
The corner building owner agreed to a six month display of 'Connecticut'. Pictured is the working maquette at 1" = 1'.
The studio was a rented 4 car garage behind the artist's apartment building on 28th St. NW Wash.D.C.
The frame was sprayed in isocynate foam and carved, then sanded to detail.
Needing more capital to complete the work, the artist offered 50 'Etching Dividends' in limited edition to 75 friends and former clients . Upon sale of the sculpture, these ‘investors' would receive their money back and keep their print/dividend.
In November of '83, The Washington Post breaks the story of the sculpture and the 'Etching Dividend' (which had sold out the week before).
With the budget revived, DiPasquale and his assistant, Greg Meredith completed the fiberglass, detail sanding and fitting the joinery of the six sections.
By Surprise, The New York Times bought the story from the Post and Connecticut became national news.
Tragically, the corner building owner did not like all the national publicity and by February, "Sculpture Needs a Home" was the 'New' news.
As the sculpture neared completion, the national press attention caught the eye of Dr. Fred Brandt, curator for Best Product's art collection.
Dr. Brandt brought the 23" Connecticut Maquette back to Corporate Headquarters in Richmond to show to Best's CEO Sydney Lewis.
The roof interface plan followed the strong YES from Sydney Lewis and a choice of the D.C. Beltway Best Store location by Ed Slipek, Director of Real Estate.
'Etching Dividend Investors' and friends helped lift the 6 sections onto the Best Product's roof.
The Rockville County Zoning Administrator declared the sculpture was ART and not a sign allowing the deck interface and the sculpture to be installed.
“We’ve done a number of projects that challenge the way people think about design” Ed Slipek explained to The Washington Post.
Best Products leased Connecticut for 2 years until the Corporation donated its art collection to the VMFA and gave 'Connecticut' back to DiPasquale.
Sale of this limited edition helped pay for a new installation in Richmond. The Lewises, avid supporters of the new award winning design of The Diamond, suggested "The Home of the Braves" might fit perfectly .
The ‘Connecticut’ unveiling coincided with the grand opening of 'The Diamond’ in April 1985..
Although the baseball mascot theme was not what DiPasquale intended for honoring Native Americans, the work fit perfectly and was groundbreaking for Richmond as public art, appreciated by baseball and non-baseball fans.
Richmond’s Style Magazine and Richmond Times Dispatch often pictured ‘Connecticut’ over its 25 year tenure.
DiPasquale Initially loaned ‘Connecticut’ to Richmond. In 1987, a grass roots "Save the Brave” campaign bought the the sculpture and donated it to The Richmond Metropolitan Authority.
In 2010, 'Connecticut' was sold and Richmond's new ball club, The Flying Squirrels moved in.
Odell Engineering and Architecture bought the sculpture for their Lucky Strike, historic tobacco building which overlooked The James River and the "Indian Territory of Chief Powhatan.
Connecticut
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