If you’ve been downtown any time over the past year, you may have noticed sculptures of varying shapes and sizes dotting Barstow Street. The second season of sculptures for Sculpture Tour Eau Claire are set to take the stage on May 7. 

This year, 31 sculptures – up slightly from last year’s 27 – of various designs will decorate Barstow Street, looping down Madison Street and up to Mayo Clinic Health System. According to one of the Sculpture Tour’s many organizers Benny Haas, the sculptures will be “all across the board” again this year, noting there will even be a glass mosaic piece. 

The Sculpture Tour was a popular downtown attraction last year, bringing in business to the downtown area, said Haas. 

“I like that it was no cost to the city to be able to provide a free art event for the community,” said Haas. 

Be sure to bop down Barstow Street after May 7 to peruse the new crop of statues and select your favorite. Like last year, community members will be encouraged to cast their vote for their favorite sculpture, which will be kept in the city permanently after the Tour ends. (Just as the High Five dog is now in Phoenix Park.)