STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

It’s an unveiling they say ewe won’t want to miss.

The Hailey Arts & Historic Preservation Commission will unveil a new sheep sculpture at 5 p.m. today—Tuesday, Oct. 8—at the corner of Myrtle and Main streets in Hailey.

The unveiling is timed to celebration the completion of the new Myrtle Street Pathway, a bike-pedestrian path on the north side of Myrtle street, at the same time.

The 45-by-63-inch sculpture is designed to honor the historical sheep migration that takes place every spring and fall as bands of sheep travel through Hailey and Ketchum to and from summer pastures in the Sawtooth, Smoky and Boulder mountains.

Commission member Carol Waller lamented that she couldn’t offer a sneak preview.

“it is REALLY COOL!” she said.

The project adds art to Hailey that also has historical significance. It was commissioned by Gooding artist Jacob Novinger who spent months creating the sculpture, endowing it with colorful found objects such as auto and tractor body parts and tools.

The addition of those objects will make the piece colorful and unique.

“The sculpture is striking, whimsical and a perfect blend of art and history for our community,” said Daniel Hansen, chair of the Arts & Historic Preservation Commission. “We expect we’ll be seeing lots of photos of it on social media.”

The Arts & Historic Preservation Commission has been on a fast track to produce arts and historical projects for the city over the past few years. They include banners reflecting the then and now of the community that hang in Werthheimer Park near the Welcome Center, rodeo arena and Campion Ice House.

It recently unveiled historical interpretive plaques on 21 different historical buildings in and around downtown Hailey and a colorful owl mural on the north side of Jane’s Artifacts building.