'Rejoice' at the Entrance to the Community Center

A new sculpture greets visitors to the main entrance of the at 1735 Simpson Avenue.

"Rejoice" was erected on Monday and the metal sculpture "embodies everything in that building," according to Leslie Skibo, president of Community Art Projects (CAP).

The Community Center is home to music, dance and arts (), literature (), history (), athletics () and activities ().

Jose Chora, co-owner of the Somers Point gallery Chora Leone, created the sculpture.

"From the first time I saw it, it just made me happy," Skibo said. "I call it 'Joy.' "

CAP and Ocean City Community Center Association purchased the sculpture using funds raised by the two nonprofit groups.

"It's a beautiful extension of the other sculptures that are there (on the grounds of the Community Center)," Skibo said.

Chora also sculpted the 22-foot cyclist that greets visitors at Ninth Street and Haven Avenue, near the start of the Haven Avenue Bicycle Corridor.

He is presently at work on a 9/11 memorial sculpture that incorporates an I-beam removed from the remnants of the World Trade Center after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2011. The new memorial will be on the grounds of the Ocean City Fire Department at Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue and will be ready by the 9/11 ceremonies in September 2012.