Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Otterly perfect match: CVTC hosts metal art on Eau Claire Sculpture Tour
The newest River Otter at Chippewa Valley Technical College doesn't attend classes or cheer from the sidelines. Instead, it welcomes visitors as part of the Eau Claire Sculpture Tour, marking this CVTC's first year participating in the community-wide public art program.
The larger-than-life sculpture greets visitors outside the Business Education Center on Clairemont Avenue.
The new public artwork celebrates CVTC's mascot while connecting the College to the largest rotating sculpture tour in the nation.
The opportunity came when Sculpture Tour approached CVTC about becoming a sponsor. Among the available sculptures were two river otter pieces, making the decision an easy one for CVTC administrators, said Nikki Riedel, CVTC marketing and promotions strategist, mascot committee co-chair.
"They actually brought the River Otter sculptures to our attention, and it immediately felt like a great fit for us," she said.
After exploring sponsorship options, Riedel presented the opportunity to College leadership, who embraced the idea. The mascot committee also joined the conversation, recognizing the unique connection between the sculpture and CVTC's River Otter identity.
For Jess Schwartz, CVTC registrar and mascot committee co-chair, seeing an otter become part of the Sculpture Tour created an immediate sense of pride.
"I was ecstatic to hear that the sculpture we sponsored was an otter. It creates a meaningful connection between the artwork and our college identity, making it something our students, employees, alumni, and community can all take pride in,” Schwartz said. “It's exciting to see a symbol that represents our campus becoming part of a larger community. It really brings people together and showcases our CVTC River Otter spirit."
Since the sculpture's unveiling, Schwartz says it has become a favorite photo backdrop and even inspired a family outing to explore the rest of the Sculpture Tour.
CVTC's partnership is exactly the kind of connection the Sculpture Tour hopes to create.
"We actually secured two otter sculptures this year, just by chance,” said Julie Pangallo, public arts manager for Visit Eau Claire, which manages the Sculpture Tour. “When we heard the River Otter was the CVTC mascot, it only made sense to reach out."
Each year, hundreds of artists from throughout the country submit sculptures for consideration. A committee evaluates each piece for safety, construction quality, community standards and artistic merit before matching it with a location that best complements the artwork.
"The goal is to integrate art into our community where it makes the most impact," Pangallo said. "We are hopeful that this is the beginning of a great relationship that will lead to CVTC students submitting artwork for the tour."
For CVTC, the sculpture represents more than a new campus feature. It highlights the College's commitment to community partnerships while giving students, employees and visitors another reason to celebrate their River Otter pride.
“It's such a fun way to support the arts while adding something unique to our community. Of course, we're especially excited that CVTC is now part of the tour,” Riedel said.
