Former NFL player Jared Odrick plans to donate a bronze sculpture to his alma mater, Lebanon High School. A member of the high school’s class of 2006, Odrick will donate a 12-foot tall cast bronze sculpture entitled “Conversation with Myself” by Colorado artist Lorri Acott.
Odrick first discussed the donation of the cast bronze sculpture with the school board in April 8, 2019. A week later, at the April 15 school board meeting, the board agreed to accept the donation. In a recent email to LebTown, Lebanon School District superintendent Arthur Abrom said the sculpture is currently slated to be installed outside the atrium entrance at the high school. He indicated that plans for the installation have not yet been finalized.
He and high school principal William Giovino issued a joint statement about Odrick’s donation. “It is with eager anticipation, we are looking forward to our new partnership and the installation of the ‘Conversations with Myself’ statue at Lebanon High School donated by Jared Odrick. The commission of this art work is another example of how Jared has become a leader in the promotion of the arts after a successful football career in both the college and professional ranks. Jared’s efforts to find a way to give back to the Lebanon community, and at the same time inspire insightful conversations through this donation, is greatly appreciated.”
Giovino said Odrick has been involved in the high school in the past He’s provided financial support to both Academic Boosters and the Lebanon High School Football team. Odrick has also addressed Lebanon High School students and read to students at Henry Houck Elementary School.
Odrick has also been involved in other philanthropic efforts in his hometown. According to a Lebanon Daily News article, in 2017 he helped unveil the Lebanon County Christian Ministries’ FRESH Start Emergency Shelter and Resource Center. A children’s playroom at the center is dedicated to Odrick’s grandmother, Mary Carolyn Hartman and her spouse Jack Harmuth. Odrick commissioned local artist Olquin Perdomo to create a mural for the playroom.
Efforts to reach Odrick for comment about his donation of Conversations with Myself to Lebanon High School were unsuccessful. After graduating from Lebanon High School, he played football at Penn State from 2006 through 2009. He was drafted in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. He played five seasons for the Dolphins, and two for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
According to the artist, her interpretation of the piece Conversations with Myself sees the tall figure as the spirit or higher self, speaking to the times when we are afraid or doubt ourselves. Another version of the piece (in aluminum rather than bronze) was previously installed at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, as seen in the video below.
According to Odrick’s website, thresholdsite.com, while in Jacksonville, he produced a citywide arts installation, Jaxtaposition, as well as multiple films with locally-based filmmakers and artists and wrote articles for Sports Illustrated and SportingNews. Since then he’s consulted on creative projects for Link Integrated Health, HBO’s “Ballers”, and has become a frequent speaker at the Cannabis World Congress on business events.
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