Category Archives: Public Art

Sculpture Sunday: Holidays – Bank of America Christmas Tree

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Since the Worthen Bank days in the 1970s, this building in downtown Little Rock designed by Noland Blass has been lit in December to resemble a Christmas tree on three sides. Though it has gone through two Worthen logos, Boatmen’s Bank, NationsBank and finally(?) Bank of America, this holiday lighting has remained. It is a beacon in downtown that is visible throughout the county at times.

In recent years the building has lit up for other things, most notably a pink ribbon in October for Race for the Cure.  But for 25+ years the only time it deviated from the usual white lighting was during the Christmas tree.  Because of its use of light and architecture it is a temporary public art installation of sorts.

Sculpture Sunday: PATRONUS

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Today’s sculpture is passed by tens of thousands of persons each day – and they have no idea.  It is Greer Farris’ 1983 sculpture Patronus which sits on the grounds of the John L. McClellan Memorial Veteran’s Hospital.  Though it faces I-630, it is hidden by highway berm and construction fencing.

Patronus consists of five identical forms which are placed aside each other equidistantly in a slight curve.  It was fabricated at the Arkansas Valley Steel Company and each section was trucked down separately on the back of a flatbed truck.

The simplicity of the design and the clean lines make this a powerful piece of abstract art.  Its design was inspired by battlements used in World War I, very appropriate for a veteran’s hospital.

It was installed in 1984. Since then, there has rarely been a time when the VA and/or UAMS or some other nearby entity has not been in construction mode.  The sculpture was never on a huge plot of land (which would have been more appropriate given its scale) but is now reduced to a small peninsula next to a few picnic tables in the parking lot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sculpture Sunday: Forever a Rose

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Today’s public art is Denny Haskew’s Forever a Rose which was installed in Riverfront Park in 2009.  Sited on a promontory next to the Arkansas River and surrounded by roses, it almost immediately became a favorite spot for engagement and bridal photos. 

Forever a Rose was donated by brothers Dean and Drew Kumpuris, both promoters of public art in Little Rock.  Haskew, a member of the National Sculptors Guild, has several other placements in Little Rock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sculpture Sunday: Stars and Stripes

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As part of the Veteran’s Day weekend, today’s Sculpture Sunday showcases Kathleen Caricof’s Stars and Stripes in the Sturgis Veterans Plaza at War Memorial Park.  This 36 by 40 feet stainless steel sculpture welcomes visitors to the park and was dedicated in 2008 in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of War Memorial Stadium.

 

 

There are five interlocked stars which represent the five branches of the military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard – both the active duty and the reserve segments of each branch as well as their affiliated guard units.

 

 

The gleaming stainless steel is both light and durable to represent the strength and vitality of the men and women who protect the United States and have done so for centuries.

 

 

Caricof, a member of the National Sculptors Guild, was selected for the commission after a national competition by the War Memorial Stadium Commission.  She has several other pieces in Little Rock which will be featured in future entries.

 

Art and Dance HAM It Up at 2nd Friday Art Night

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Dance and Art intersect at Historic Arkansas Museum during the monthly 2nd Friday Art Night. 

At Historic Arkansas Museum, there will be a reception for Tesseract Dancing: Brett Anderson and Emily Galusha, a new exhibit opening in the Trinity Gallery for Arkansas Artists. Outside the north entrance, at 6 pm, the pARTy for Peg sculpture will be lit; and a blacksmith will demonstrate his trade in the new Shop on the Log House grounds. Throughout the evening, in various locations, Arkansas Festival Ballet will preview upcoming performances.

Started in 2005, this downtown art gallery walk in the River Market District vicinity showcases a variety of museums and galleries.  In addition to viewing art, there are refreshments and usually live music at the various stops along the way.  There is also a free art shuttle to take visitors from location to location. The event runs from 5pm to 8pm.

Among the various participating sites are Arkansas Studies Institute, Christ Episcopal Church, Hearne Fine Art, Mediums Art Lounge, Copper Grill, Dizzy’s Gypsy Bistro, Lulav and Third Street merchants of the River Market District.

Sculpture Sunday: Large Standing Figure: Knife Edge

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Little Rock’s most famous piece of public art is Henry Moore’s 1961 creation Large Standing Figure: Knife Edge, which is known locally as “The Henry Moore Sculpture.”  The original model was created in 1961; this sculpture was cast in 1976 and purchased in June 1978 by the Little Rock Metrocentre Improvement District. The purchase price was $185,000 — a princely sum at the time but now a bargain for a Henry Moore sculpture.

A committee consisting of Townsend Wolfe (then the director and chief curator of the Arkansas Arts Center), James Dyke and Dr. Virginia Rembert actually traveled to England to meet with Moore about the sculpture.

It was originally placed at the intersection of Capitol and Main as the centerpiece of the pedestrian mall. When the final segment was reopened to vehicular traffic, it was put at its current location of the southeast corner of Capitol and Louisiana.

Arts & Humanities Month: Sculpture at the River Market

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For the fifth year, the River Market Pavilions and surrounding area will be filled with hundreds of sculptures and thousands of people as the annual Sculpture at the River Market returns from October 14 through 16.

Several of the pieces purchased at previous shows are now on display throughout Little Rock including in Riverfront Park’s Vogel Schwartz Sulpture Garden.

The sculptures featured will include all types of media, style, subject matter, and size.  Among the artists participating are Michael Warrick, Kathleen Caricof, Tim Cherry, Denny Haskew, Shelley Buonaiuto, Dale Roark, Margaret Warren, Carolyn Barlock, Rollin Karg, Ed Pennebaker, Don Rambadt, Ron Chapel, Charles White, Jane Dedecker, Seth Vandable, Ted Schaal, Merrilee Cleveland, Timothy Nimmo, Clay Enoch, Mark Leichliter, James Vilona, Darrell Davis, Susie Chisholm, Daivd Nunneley, C.T. Whitehouse, Belgin Yucelen, Dee Clements, Terry Bean, Merlel Randolph, Karla Runquist, James Paulsen, Peter Rujuwa, Bryan Massey Sr., William Kolok, John Sewell, Ken Newman, Kim Shaklee, Gene Sparling, Alex Brown, Connie Hendrix, Pati Stajcar, Jim Goshorn, Julie McCraney-Brogdon, and Kevin Robb.

Admission to Sculpture at the River Market is free. Sculpture at the Market will run from 9AM to 5PM on Saturday, October 15 and from 10AM to 4PM on Sunday, October 16.

The sale and show is sponsored by the City of Little Rock and the National Sculptors’ Guild. Proceeds from the sale of artwork will fund upgrades in Riverfront Park and the River Market.