The Congaree Vista Guild has announced that a rededication ceremony will take place for The Gong, a commemorative piece created to celebrate the late Marvin Chernoff. The Gong was stolen earlier this year but has since been recovered and repaired. The ceremony will take place Tuesday, April 16 at 3:00 p.m. at 1100 Lincoln Street.

“We are so relieved that The Gong was recovered and that it’s been restored to its original state,” said Abby Anderson, Executive Director of the Congaree Vista Guild. “We felt like a rededication was important for such a treasured piece of public art.”

The Gong was created by Clark Ellefson and Matthew Kramer to honor the late Marvin Chernoff, a public relations executive with offices in the Vista. Chernoff was known for using a small, desk-sized gong to symbolize a job well done and a way to create closure before moving to the next project.

Lee Ann Kornegay, a film maker, arts organizer and former employee of the late Chernoff initially brought the idea to One Columbia in the early 1980s and recommended a less traditional sculpture. One Columbia for Arts and Culture commissioned the piece with donated funds from the community and with Chernoff’s personality in mind. They oversee the maintenance of the artwork and received a donation to assist with the repairs to the Gong.

One Columbia works with the City of Columbia, community organizations, and private entities to bring public art to the community by commissioning, administering, maintaining, and marking public art throughout the city.
 

The Vista site for The Gong was chosen to recognize Chernoff’s early involvement in the development and repurposing of the former warehouse area and is located near the first office renovated by Chernoff and his business partner, Rick Silver.

For more information about the Congaree Vista Guild, visit www.VistaColumbia.com or call (803) 269-5946. Follow the Vista Guild on Facebook, X and Instagram: @TheVistaSC. For more information on One Columbia for Arts and Culture, visit OneColumbiaSC.com.