"Ruminant (The Grand Masticator)" is a stained glass accoutered John Deere combine created by Minnesota artist Karl Unnasch. Lit from within, the combine is outfitted with 34 original and handcrafted leaded stained glass panels. The panels offer a variety images related to agriculture, history, harvest, food production and food consumption. Ruminant was a highlight of the 2013 Farm/Art DTour in Re
edsburg, WI and a growing number of local enthusiasts have come to recognize the creation as a unique and compelling monument to the Reedsburg area’s agricultural heritage. In the meantime, Ruminant has also been honored by Americans for the Arts of Washington, D.C. as being among the country's best public works. Quirky, oddly beautiful and absolutely one of a kind, it is quickly becoming a landmark and is expected to attract visitors to Reedsburg throughout its life. Through the efforts of The Ruminant Project, the combine was purchased, re-outfitted for a permanent life, donated to the City of Reedsburg, and placed in a new City Park called "Harvest Park". The Harvest Park location was previously a vacant lot located just opposite the Reedsburg Chamber of Commerce. The Ruminant Project is an initiative of Reedsburg ArtsLink, a local arts non-profit which acts as a catalyst for connecting creative people of all disciplines within and beyond the community to strengthen the "culture" of arts and culture in the Reedsburg area. Fundraising for this project includes the purchase of the re-outfitted art work and landscaping for the park. A master landscaping plan is being developed by Cameron Aslaksen Associates of Reedsburg. The budget to acquire and site Ruminant was roughly $40,000. The budget for landscaping is currently being developed.
