A major new work is being added to the permanent collection at Sculpture Fields at Montague Park with the public unveiling of “Meridian Coda,” a sculpture by acclaimed artist Ed McCullough.
Scheduled for installation at the 33-acre outdoor art museum at noon Friday, Feb. 6, “Meridian Coda” represents the culmination of McCullough’s lifelong artistic practice. The work explores enduring themes of family, connection and loss – ideas that shaped his work for decades.
“I appreciate Sculpture Fields giving this piece a spot in your beautiful park,” says Allison McClendon, McCullough’s daughter. “I’ll be there for the installation so I can take photos and send them to my dad. He’ll enjoy seeing them.”
Born during the Great Depression, McCullough grew up in Chicago during World War II and later served in the U.S. Navy, patrolling the Atlantic aboard a submarine during the Cold War. His work was influenced by both history and personal experience, particularly his close relationship with his older brother, Bob McCullough, a photographer who documented the Holocaust.
That shared confrontation with humanity’s darkest moments shaped both brothers’ creative paths. Bob expressed those experiences through photography, while Ed explored them through sculpture, often returning to questions of memory, connection and emotional endurance.
McCullough was known for working in a meticulously ordered studio, classical music playing as he entered a creative rhythm that allowed him to process emotions beyond words. After Bob’s death in 2005, McCullough frequently spoke of his brother’s continued presence as a creative force in his work.
Completed as McCullough’s health declined, “Meridian Coda” stands as the final phrase in a lifelong artistic statement. The sculpture also reflects the strength of artistic community. Fellow sculptors and supporters in Chicago stepped in to help assemble the work and ensure its safe transport to Chattanooga, allowing McCullough’s vision to be fully realized.
The public is invited to attend the unveiling at 1800 Polk St. Opened in 2016, Sculpture Fields at Montague Park is the largest sculpture park in the Southeastern United States and is free and open to the public daily from dawn to dusk.
Source: Sculpture Fields