Category Archives: Public Art

New mural by Matt McLeod dedicated today on Main Street Creative Corridor

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Photo taken from a Cranford Co. video shot by Chris Cranford

Photo taken from a Cranford Co. video shot by Chris Cranford

The City of Little Rock in conjunction with the Downtown Little Rock Partnership will hold a ceremony to celebrate the completion of a new piece of public art within the heart of Little Rock’s Main Street Creative Corridor. This large-scale acrylic mural, titled Beneath the Surface by Little Rock local artist Matt McLeod, is located at the corner of Sixth and Main streets.

The 30-foot-by-142-foot mural was painted along the side of the Bennett’s Military Supplies building. More than 30 students from the Urban Garden Montessori School are expected to be in attendance. The mural is located in the same block as the school.

The event will also mark the start of the Main Street Food Truck Fridays at Main Street and Capitol Avenue.

It will take place at 11:30 a.m. In case of rain, the dedication will take place at McLeod Fine Art (108 West Sixth Street).

Six semifinalists for new Sculpture at the River Market public commission

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Once again, the Sculpture at the River Market program is sponsoring a $60,000 commission for a new piece of public art.

Guests of Friday evening’s preview party will have the chance to vote to select the winner.

This is the fifth year for the program.  Two of the commissioned pieces have been placed in Riverfront Park, with a third one scheduled for installation in the coming weeks.  The fourth piece is located at 2nd and Main Streets next to the parking deck.  This year’s selection will be placed in west Little Rock at Chenal Valley Road and Chenal Parkway.

Visitors to the Sculpture Show and Sale will be able to see examples of the six finalists on Saturday and Sunday as well as over 700 other sculptures ranging in size from a few inches to over 10 feet tall.

2015 semis 1232015 semis 456The 2015 semifinalists are (in alphabetical order):

  1. Kathleen Caricof: “Embrace” is designed as an entrance sculpture for the intersection. A site-specific sculpture, it would stand approximately 15′ tall and 18′ wide and be made of steel with a rusted outside finish and epoxy paint inside finish.
  2. Tim Cherry: “Ancient Wings” features a seated Griffin in a regal pose, with an arched neck and outstretched wings. It would be over 5′ tall by 6′ long and 2′ wide and be made of steel with an interior stainless steel structure.
  3. Sandy Graves: “Cotton and Clementine” would be two oversized bunnies in a whimsical design. They would be 6′ tall by 9’9″ wide and 2’8″ deep and made of bronze.  Cotton would be white and Clementine would be orange.
  4. Adam Schultz: “Standing Together” features three deer in a family group. With elongated legs and stylized bodies, the grouping would stand up to 25′ tall and cover over 120 sq. ft. They would be a combination of stainless steel and aluminum.
  5. Stephen Shachtman: “A” is a tripod which represents both Arkansas as a whole (through the steel/bronze portion) and the people of Little Rock (through the flagstone sphere). Each leg is of a different overall length; 16’, 14’, and 12’ tall; sphere in center is 40” in diameter.
  6. Michael Warrick: “Mockingbird Tree” is a tree with bubble forms for foliage plus a pair of Arkansas’ state birds. It would be 18′ tall by 11′ wide by 7′ deep. The tree would be stainless steel and the mockingbirds would be bronze.

Easter Bunny in Bronze – Rabbit Reach and Bunny Bump

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For those who are around the River Market today, there are two “Easter” bunny sculptures they can visit.

Rabbit Reach 004

One is Tim Cherry’s Rabbit Reach. The sculpture is located at the corner of Sherman Street and President Clinton Avenue across from the Museum of Discovery.

The sculpture is a gift from Whitlow Wyatt and the Carey Cox Wyatt Charitable Foundation. It was given in memory of George Wyatt and Frank Kumpuris.  Those two gentlemen were the fathers of Whitlow Wyatt and Dean & Drew Kumpuris.

Cherry’s sculpture was selected for this spot because of its proximity to children at the Museum and in the River Market district.  The design and size of the sculpture encourages children to climb on it and to play around the rabbit.  While some public art is situated so it cannot be touched, this one is situated to be touched as part of the appreciation experience.

IMG_3987Laurel Peterson Gregory’s Bunny Bump is featured in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden.  Two stylized rabbits make for an interesting piece of artwork when they are not only dancing, but also doing the butt bump while dancing. The smooth surface and color of the bronze add to the illusion. This small piece has been placed on a pedestal to elevate more to eye level.

The sculpture was completed in 2009 and installed in 2010.  Gregory has been featured at the Sculpture at the River Market show.  (The photo was taken during a recent snow. Hopefully there will be no more of that this year.)

There will be more rabbit sculptures on display at the 2015 Sculpture at the River Market.  It is set for April 25 & 26 in the River Market pavilions. There are preview parties on Friday, April 24. For more information, visit the website.

Drain Smart Public Art contest announced

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DrainSmartA coalition of state and local agencies and nonprofit organizations have announced the launch of Drain Smart — a public art program aimed at raising awareness on education and protection of local streams.

Like most cities, Little Rock’s storm drains flow directly into our streams. When it rains, water picks up everything in its path and carries it through storm drains into streams and creeks. Drain Smart is an engaging public-education and environmental program that uses art to communicate the importance of reducing the litter that flows into storm drains.

Program coordinators are calling for local artists to submit their ideas for murals that would be painted on 18 storm drains in the downtown and midtown areas of Little Rock. Supplies for these projects will be provided to the artists.

Artists have until April 3 to submit their applications along with a sketch of their idea. An artist selection committee will choose 18 artists to paint a mural on the designated storm drains.  Artists will be eligible for a final prize to be given to the winner chosen by public voting. This exciting project gives artists the opportunity to express themselves via semi-permanent public art in a series of small-scale outdoor storm drain murals. This art will then serve to educate the public on watershed and stream protection.

Partners in this inaugural project include the City of Little Rock, Audubon Arkansas, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Little Rock Parks and Recreation, Friends of Fourche Creek, Keep Little Rock Beautiful, Studio Main, The Bernice Garden, MacPark Group, The Arkansas Arts Center and Sculpture at the River Market. Sherwin Williams, Walmart and Seal Krete will donate supplies and materials.

Artists will be notified by April 10 and all art will be completed by June 1.

For more information on this project, the timeline, rules and artist application visit www.drain-smart.org.

Sculptors announced for 2015 Sculpture at the River Market Show and Sale

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The  following list of Artists have been juried into the 2015 Sculpture at the River Market Show & Sale. Each of these Artists has also been invited to submit a proposal for the 5th Annual Monument Public Art Commission Competition.  Many favorites from past shows are returning, while the show also welcomes many new sculptors.

Mark your calendar for the Show & Sale – April 24-26, 2015

2015 Artists:

 

 

Shadows for Groundhog Day

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Today is Groundhog Day.  In honor of prognostication based on shadows, some photos showcasing shadows.

0202Peace

Lorri Acott’s “Peace” sculpture at 2nd and Main

 

0202Barre

Windows and barres casting shadows in a Ballet Arkansas studio

The footbridge between Riverfront Park and the Old State House Museum.

The footbridge between Riverfront Park and the Old State House Museum.

A bird looking at its shadow in the River Market parking deck.

A bird looking at its shadow in the River Market parking deck.

The Broadway Bridge balustrade.

The Broadway Bridge balustrade.

 

Final Day for Chihuly Exhibit at Clinton Library

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chihuly2

Today is the final day to see the Dale Chihuly exhibit at the Clinton Presidential Library & Museum.

Dale Chihuly is credited with revolutionizing the Studio Glass movement and elevating the perception of the glass medium from the realm of craft to fine art. He is renowned for his ambitious architectural installations around the world in historic cities, museums, and gardens.

The exhibit includes new and early works representing the breadth and scope of the artist’s vision over the last four decades. The exhibit features four installations designed specifically for the Clinton Presidential Library. One installation is on-view in the temporary exhibition space, one in the Garden View Room, one in the Sky Lobby and one in the outdoor fountain.

The Clinton Presidential Library & Museum is open until 5.