Mark Cline: The Man Behind the Giant Ring

In a studio tucked beneath the Blue Ridge Mountains, surrounded by buckets of resin, paintbrushes, and half-finished fiberglass creatures, artist Mark Cline is already working on another piece of Virginia legend. This time, it's not a dinosaur or a Civil War phantom; it's a ring—a really big one. For almost 20 years, Cline has proudly been the creative mind behind one of Virginia Military Institute's (VMI) most beloved traditions: the impressive fiberglass replica of the class ring, revealed every fall during the school's special Ring Figure celebration. Standing taller than a cadet and gleaming with a polished finish, this sculpture serves as the backdrop for one of the most meaningful moments in a VMI cadet's life. "It's never about the money with me," Cline said. "It's about the use of the product and how people can enjoy themselves with the statues that I've built. I got into this because I enjoy doing it… the money's important, but I never did it for that." From Fantasy to FiberglassCline's name is well known throughout Rockbridge County, where his impressive creations beautifully combine art, storytelling, and roadside attractions. Over the years, he's brought to life towering dinosaurs that overlook highways, crafted a whimsical "Foamhenge" made entirely of Styrofoam, and gathered an enchanting array of fantastical figures that fill both his studio and his imagination. His journey to that world began in a classroom, not an art school. "I had ADHD [Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder] when I was a child, and I was put in a special-grade teacher's class," Cline said. "She realized I had other abilities that she focused on, and she taught me how to work with paper mache and wood and a few other things… from there I learned how to sculpt." He never attended college or joined the military, but he discovered something equally impactful to him and others: people wanted what he created, and they wanted it to endure. "I learned that I could sell my stuff and people were interested in things that were going to last longer outdoors," he explained. "So I started working with fiberglass." Today, his process relies heavily on the people commissioning the work. "Since I do so much commercial product, I find out what the client has got in his head," Cline said. "A lot of times they know something, but they don't have their own creative vision… and then a lot of times it has to work within the parameters of their budget and the location where they're putting it." The Ring That Brings a Class TogetherCline's connection to VMI started when the Institute began searching for a new centerpiece for one of its most cherished ceremonies. "From what I recall, they had a ring previously that wasn't very well built — or it may have been at the time — but it had been used for something like 30 or 40 years, and it wasn't professionally made," Cline said. "So I was capable of producing that for them… we did it, I can't remember what year it was. Fifteen years ago, maybe? Twenty? I don't remember." Each class crafts its own special ring, filled with personal symbols, mottos, and motifs that capture the year's unique experiences. Turning this design into fiberglass requires both artistic skill and mechanical expertise. Cline approaches the process with a dedicated focus, working closely with a single point rather than a committee, ensuring a personal touch in every piece. "It was just one individual I was working with," he recalled, noting that his work for VMI has gone beyond the ring. "I also did some shields — some that were in the mess hall. There's one hanging up in the VMI Museum." He begins each year's project by reviewing the design sketches shared by the class, then carefully enlarges the measurements to create a structure that reaches several feet high. The process involves molding, layering fiberglass, sanding, painting, and sealing; all steps that may take several weeks, but it's gratifying to see the final piece come together. "Probably about a month," Cline said when asked how long it takes from artwork to unveiling. "There's a lot of communication back and forth and things that need to be squared away before you pull the trigger on everything. Approve the sketches, approve the size, and figure out if it's going to roll through a door. I mean, I've got to find out how big the door is that it's going to go through." During the build, he stays focused on practical things. "It was just, at that point, 'How am I going to make this work and how am I going to build it?'" he said. "I just focus on the work and how it's going to get built. I don't really put a lot of emotion into it until it's ready to go — until it's actually doing what it was meant to do." He says the most satisfying moment comes later. "The most rewarding part is always seeing it in use." Tradition in Three Dimensions For many VMI alumni, the fiberglass ring is more than just a decorative centerpiece — it's a symbol of continuity. Generations of cadets have walked through Cline's creation to celebrate one of the most meaningful moments of their college years. Cline understands that weight. Though he has built attractions and sculptures all over the country and internationally, he takes special pride in work that remains close to home. "Just knowing that I'm a local guy and it's doing something… I really love being a community person, and I love doing things for the community," he said. "Anything that I do that's close to home makes me feel more connected." When asked about the story the giant ring tells every year as cadets line up in dress uniforms, he didn't hesitate. "It tells the proud history that y'all earned over the years," Cline said. "It's anything traditional — anything traditional does — as long as it's kept in perspective. I mean, traditions come and go, but this one's lasted a long time." He jokes that he's not interested in being the one to tamper with that. "You know what happens when you mess with tradition, don't you?" he said with a laugh. "The whole fabric of civilization becomes unwound. I don't want to be responsible for that." Imagination Rooted in Virginia SoilDespite his playful and sometimes dreamlike attractions, Cline has a heartfelt connection to the Shenandoah Valley. His cozy studio, Enchanted Castle Studios, is just a few miles from Natural Bridge, a popular spot where visitors love to snap photos with his sculptures or watch him create. He also runs his very own theme park, Dinosaur Kingdom, and guides engaging ghost tours around the area, all while juggling large commissions from across the country."We had a piece go out yesterday to Illinois, and I've got a piece I'm working on now that's going to go to Kansas, to go to Tulsa," he said. "And I've got another piece I'm going to go up to New York [with] before the end of December. And then I've got a project — we're going to start building a 65-foot tall dinosaur to go to Tulsa." His career has certainly had its share of risks. He remembers a commission for a 10th-anniversary 9/11 display in his hometown of Waynesboro, which almost turned into a tragedy when a crew left a task unfinished. A loose metal cable whipped into a power line, creating a dangerous situation. "Three seconds earlier we were holding this metal cable," he remembered. The strike cut power to hundreds of homes and several department stores, a reminder of how much can go wrong once a piece leaves the studio. Still, Cline returns to the same motivation that originally drew him to fiberglass. "I'm very proud to be asked to do things for my community," he said. "Like I said, it's never really about the money for me. It's about using my abilities to bring joy to people." As Ring Figure approaches once again, cadets will soon gather to receive their rings and to pose beside Cline's towering creation. For them, it marks a milestone. For Cline, it's another chapter in a career dedicated to turning imagination into something you can touch, and another chance for a local artist to be woven into the traditions of the Institute just down the road. Please help The Cadet remain independent and cadet-run - The Cadet is 100% self-supporting through advertising and tax-deductible donations, true to its origins in 1871. 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