Category Archives: Visual Art

Sculpture Vulture: Interdependence

Posted on by

The Sculpture Vulture returns today with a visit to the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport.  Mark Leichliter’s Interdependence: Encircling the Future was installed near the entrance to the airport in 2004.

This sculpture greets visitors to the airport whether they are departing or arriving.  It was commissioned by the Airport Commission to be a focal point with the existing airport as well as play a pivotal role in any future expansion.

Leichliter is a member of the National Sculptors’ Guild.  He has several other installations in Little Rock.

The three rings represent the world, the nation, and the individual; the complex intersections between the rings symbolize the vital and undeniable interconnections between these three elements, as well as underscoring the strength that exists when these facets all work together cooperatively.

The sculpture is fabricated from cold-rolled A36 steel with the base and first ring being 12 gauge (.105 inch) and the remainder 14 gauge (.075 inch). It is finished with a baked-on powder coat by Cardinal Industrial Finishes, product RD03. The sculpture is 16 feet tall, 11 feet 8 inches wide, and 2 feet 10 inches deep.

 

Culture Vulture tending the nest

Posted on by

The Little Rock Culture Vulture is on vacation until Labor Day.

Sculpture Vulture: Kerrick Hartman’s PLACES OF THE HEART

Posted on by

20120812-152936.jpg

While the Sculpture Vulture usually features permanent public art installations, this week’s feature is one of the temporary installations at the Bernice Garden. One of the winners in the 2011 Sculpture Competition. Kerrick Hartman’s sculpture Places of the Heart is located at the west entrance to the Bernice Garden. The sculpture stands approximately four feet tall and is made of marble, steel and wood.

Here is his artist’s statement:

“I like to draw inspiration from the natural beauty of Arkansas with a focus on the small places tucked away that are sought out for a moment of quiet contemplation and introspection. It seems that with our stressed out and busy lives such places are harder to find and appreciate. These places of solitude are where we can let the interplay of ideas, emotions, and spirituality; shape our lives, our landscape, and our future.

20120812-152715.jpgThese are the places of the heart and the outwardly spiraling form suggests hope from spiritual and intellectual growth, and transitions into an undulating shape on the reverse side signifying and inward path of introspection and self-reflection. Where one seeks solitude is often as individualistic and unique as the people of Arkansas; and in a sense reflects the very nature of the Bernice Garden.

Hartman currently lives in Stuttgart and attends UALR working on a B.A. in Studio Art. Hh has previously worked as a scientist focusing in plant pathology with a PhD From North Carolina State University in 1996. It is his current desire and passion to create art on a full time basis and to share his creative skill through gallery exhibitions, workshops and community art experiences.

Cool Culture — Beat the Heat at LR Museums

Posted on by

Seeking a daytime escape from the heat of the day, most of Little Rock’s museums offer wonderful climate controlled environments at no charge.

Among those museums in LR which offer escapes to galleries at no charge are the Arkansas Arts Center, MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, Historic Arkansas Museum (fees do apply for tours of historic structures), Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Old State House Museum, Butler Center Galleries  at the Arkansas Studies Institute, Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center and the Little Rock Central High National Historic Site.  In addition, members to the Museum of Discovery can visit it for free.

Sculpture Vulture: Maribeth Anders’ SHADOW HOUSE

Posted on by

20120804-161903.jpg

This month, the Sculpture Vulture highlights some sculptures from another Little Rock sculpture garden–the Bernice Garden on South Main Street.

Today’s sculpture is Maribeth Anders’ Shadow House. This fifteen foot tall sculpture is made primarily of painted wood. This is a permanent sculpture in the garden and was selected for inclusion in 2009.

Anders has lived in Little Rock for nearly three decades. She is currently a Visual Arts Instructor at Pulaski Technical College. Over the years, she has taught at the Arkansas Arts Center, the Little Rock School District and the UALR Community School of the Arts.

More of her work can be seen at her website at www.maribethandersart.com.

Sculpture Vulture: Forever Ready

Posted on by

Today’s Sculpture Vulture is once again in the Vogel-Schwartz Sculpture Garden. It is more fun to spend time in this garden where one can passively enjoy art with a nice cold bottle of water instead of having to labor in a vegetable or flower garden.

Ken Newman’s Forever Ready was donated in 2009 by the Sculpture at the River Market.  Mr. Newman is a member of the National Sculptors’ Guild.  One of Mr. Newman’s specialties is animals.  Cast in bronze, Forever Ready depicts a Labrador.  Here is Mr. Newman’s artist statement on the piece.

Forever Ready is based off my 30 years experiences with and my love of the Lab. The sculpture was created during the absence of a lab in my life, this was important, because I wanted to reflect on all the past labs, not a present companion. So, ‘Forever Ready’ is that reflection of the breed (hunter, companion and teacher)…Capturing its intense nature with discipline and loyalty, I have set the lab on edge so intense, that if not given the command to go, it will just fall off. But, it is able to maintain balance – wet and ready to go again. The lab’s shadow is cast in the water below, for a I cannot think of a lab without water.

Sculpture Vulture: MIRAGE

Posted on by

20120722-212610.jpg

Today’s Sculpture Vulture is Ted Schaal’s MIRAGE located in the Vogel-Scwartz Sculpture Garden. It was purchased in 2009 for the garden.

According to Schaal, “Mirage Monument was inspired by seeing a desert mirage while driving in the west. A mountain appeared to be hovering in the sky and I wanted to capture that instant of wonder about that etherial phenomenon. The sense of illusion and curiosity as to how it is happening is central to the piece. The horizontal slit in the stainless orb is the horizon line and the ridges in the bronze make stair step profiles like heat off the road.”