Happy 2017 from the Sculpture Vulture

Posted on January 1, 2017 by Scott

Several of the sculptures in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden and Riverfront Park have figures which mimic a “1” and a “7.”

To celebrate the start of 2017, here is a look at Seventeen of them. And stay tuned for the 10th Sculpture at the River Market Show and Sale on April 21-23, 2017! Who knows, there could be some sculptures in that show that also have the “1” and “7” features.

Jane DeDecker’s THE TIES THAT BIND

Kevin Box’s DANCING PONY

Dale Rogers’ RETRO TREES

Kevin Kresse’s BREAKING THE CYCLE

Bryan Massey’s THE JAZZ PLAYER

Casey Horn’s TRANQUILITY

Denny Haskew’s FIRST GLANCE

Kathleen Caricof’s LET THE MUSIC PLAY

Bryan Massey’s UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT

ROTARY PLAZA

Michael Warrick’s GROWN

Mark Leichliter’s MEME

Lorri Acott’s TALKING TO MYSELF

Wayne Salge’s SIZZLING SISTERS

Laurel Peterson Gregory’s BUNNY BUMP

Merle Randolph’s SPACE RACE

Jane DeDecker & Alyson Kinkade’s IN THE WINGS

Sculpture at the River Market Show and Sale this weekend

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Scott

Wayne Salge
Photo: Mel Shockner
Benito & Amelia
35x16x16” Bronze

Little Rock residents and visitors alike will have the opportunity to see and purchase works by leading sculptors when the ninth Sculpture at the River Market Invitational Show and Sale takes place from April 22 to 24.

Over 800 sculptures will be on display in the River Market pavilions and in the adjacent area of Riverfront Park on those three days in April. The works featured will include all types of media, style, subject matter, and size.

Sculpture at the River Market will feature the works of over 50 sculptors.

The 2016 sculptors include: Lorri Acott, Lori Arnold, Terry & Maritza Bean, Hunter Brown, Craig Campbell, Kathleen Caricof, Tim Cherry, Leslie Daly, Darrell Davis, Jane DeDecker, John Deering, Clay Enoch, Kimber Fiebiger, Peter Grimord, Guilloume, Denny Haskew, Bob Heintzelman, Mark Hyde, Greg Johnson, James Keller, Kevin Kresse, Mark Leichliter, Harold Linke, Allison Luedtke, and Bryan Winfred Massey, Sr.

Tod Switch
Language is Key
24″H x 46″W x 24″D
Powder Coated Steel

Other participating sculptors are: James G. Moore, Nnamdi Okonkwo, Steven Olszewski, Richard Pankratz, Nathan Pierce, Merle Randolph, Dale Roark, Kevin Robb, Timothy Roundy, Emelene Russell, Wayne Salge, Valerie Jean Schafer, Adam Schultz, Stephen Shachtman, Kim Shaklee, Stephanie & Scott Shangraw, Gene Sparling, Lawrence Starck, Charles Strain, Tod Switch, Michael Warrick, C.T. Whitehouse, Longhua XU, and Michelle Zorich & Katherine Martin.

Sculpture at the River Market will be open in the River Market pavilions from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday, April 23, and from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday, April 24. In addition to the opportunity to view the sculptures and meet with the sculptors, there are a variety of activities planned throughout the two days.

Stephen Shachtman
Helix
20x18x3” Glass/Steel

Docent led tours of the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden will be available at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24. Andina’s Café & Coffee Roastery will be set up at the sculpture show on Sunday beginning at 9:30 a.m. From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Sunday, Southern Salt and Southern Gourmasian food trucks will be set up at the River Market.

On Friday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m., a Preview Party will kick off the weekend. With food provided by Copper Grill, beverages provided by Glazer’s and Stella Artois, frozen treats by Le Pops, and live jazz music, it will be a festive atmosphere offering guests the first chance to purchase sculptures as well as visit with the sculptors. Also that night, guests to the Preview Party will be able to vote for their favorite sculpture in the 2016 Public Monument Competition.

Sculptors announced for 2016 Sculpture at the River Market

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Scott

Sculpture at the River Market is pleased to announce the artists who have been juried in to our 2016 Sculpture Show & Sale to be held April 22-24.

Each artist was invited to submit a proposal for the 6th Public Art Monument Sculpture Commission Competition – a $60,000 to $80,000 commission.

Guests attending the Preview Party on April 22nd will view and vote on the six semi-finalist proposals to help select the top three finalists; the top three will be announced at the end of the evening. These three finalists’ proposals will be juried on April 23-24 and the winning proposal will be announced on Sunday afternoon, April 24th.

2016 Artists

Lorri Acott
Lori Arnold
Terry & Maritza Bean
Hunter Brown
Craig Campbell
Kathleen Caricof, NSG
Leslie Daly
Darrell Davis, NSG
Jane DeDecker, NSG
John Deering
Clay Enoch, NSG
Kimber Fiebiger
Peter Grimord
Guilloume
Jeff Hall
Denny Haskew, NSG
Bob Heintzelman
Mark Hyde
Greg Johnson
James Keller
Kevin Kresse
Mark Leichliter, NSG
Harold Linke, NSG
Allison Luedtke
Bryan Winfred Massey, Sr.
James G. Moore
Nnamdi Okonkwo
Steven Olszewski
Richard Pankratz
James Paulsen
Nathan Pierce
Merle Randolph
Dale Roark
Kevin Robb
Timothy Roundy
Emelene Russell
Wayne Salge, NSG
Valerie Jean Schafer
Adam Schultz
Stephen Shachtman, NSG
Kim Shaklee
Stephanie & Scott Shangraw
Gene Sparling
Lawrence Starck
Charles Strain
Tod Switch
Michael Warrick, NSG
C.T. Whitehouse, NSG
Longhua XU
Michelle Zorich & Katherine Martin

NSG indicates membership in the National Sculptors’ Guild

Bonus Highlight of 2015 – Creative Corridor

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Scott

A grand opening to highlight the new features and completed sections of the Creative Corridor’s Low Impact Development (LID) streetscape took place on September 14 as the revitalization of Little Rock’s Main Street continues to take shape, block by block. Earlier in the year, Matt McLeod’s mural Beneath the Surface was dedicated at the corner of Sixth and Main Streets. Together with Lorri Acott’s sculpture Peace and mural banners by Stephano and Virmarie DePoyster, public art is taking shape along the Creative Corridor.

The most recently completed improvements in the 500 block of Main Street were opened to the public for strolling along the tree-lined boardwalk on the west side. All of the pedestrian and environmentally friendly streetscapes in the 100, 200, 300 and 500 blocks of Main Street contain LID features such as bioswales, porous pavers, rain gardens, and other biodiverse vegetation.

The grand opening also celebrated the elements of creative place-making that have occurred. Recent public art installations and the clustering of artistic and creative organizations on Main Street are transforming the Creative Corridor into a downtown hub that supports a great level of pedestrian activity, sociability, recreation and aesthetics.

An arts open house and reception followed the tour, with the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Arkansas, Matt McLeod Fine Art, and Cranford Co. opening the doors to their new, connected spaces. Later that week, ACANSA kicked off with a street party showcasing the ASO.

The Creative Corridor is a mixed-use development project aimed at restoring the vitality of Main Street by creating an arts district and retrofitting a four-block segment of the street between President Clinton Avenue and 7th streets. The City of Little Rock estimates that more than $100 million in private and public investment has occurred to date to help make this vision a reality.

15 Highlights of 2015 – Sculpture at the River Market expands beyond River Market

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Scott

In 2015, Sculpture at the River Market officially expanded outside of the River Market area.

There have certainly been sculptures in Little Rock since the Henry Moore sculpture arrived in the 1970s. Working with the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, Sculpture at the River Market has located scores of sculptures in Riverfront Park (both in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden and in other areas of the park) and on the streets in the River Market District.

In 2011, the group started a public monument competition. The first three annual winners were all placed in Riverfront Park. Lorri Acott won the 2014 competition for her sculpture Peace. Instead of being placed in the park, it was installed at the southeast corner of the intersection of Second and Main Streets.

It has quickly become a focal point in downtown Little Rock.

The 2015 public monument competition was won by Michael Warrick. It will be placed on Chenal Parkway at Chenal Village Drive.

Also in 2015, the sculptures downtown started attracting attention. Actress Melissa Joan Hart and singer Tim McGraw both took to social media to highlight Little Rock sculpture while they were visiting Little Rock. McGraw highlighted the pig sculpture at the River Market while Hart praised Rabbit Reach at the corner of President Clinton Avenue and Sherman Street.

The 2016 edition of the annual show and sale will be April 22 to 24.

Sculpture Vulture: Lorri Acott’s Who Rescued Who

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Scott

Little Rock’s newest sculpture was unveiled on Saturday. Located at the entrance to the Little Rock Animal Village, Lorri Acott’s Who Rescued Who depicts a person and dog looking at each other. They are sharing a bond of respect, admiration and love.

The human figure has Acott’s trademark extended length legs. These represent the ability to overcome obstacles and rise above adversity. This is even more apt when considering the role that pets can play in our lives, as well as the role humans play in “adopting” rescued pets.

The sculpture is dedicated to the memory of Jack Adcock. It is given by his family, which includes longtime City Director Joan Adcock, their two children, eleven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren (with two more on the way).

Sculptor Lorri Acott & City Director Joan Adcock with “Who Rescued Who”

The unveiling took place at the annual Animal Village “Paw”ty which is a combination birthday party celebration and opportunity for more interaction with animals.

The landscaping for the sculpture was designed and implemented by the Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department. The project was also made possible by the support of Little Rock Animal Services staff, City of Little Rock leadership and Sculpture at the River Market.

Acott is also the creator of “Conversation with Myself” which is located in Riverfront Park’s Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden and “Peace” at the corner of Second and Main in downtown.

2015 Sculpture at the River Market this weekend!

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Scott

The 2015 Sculpture at the River Market Show & Sale runs Saturday and Sunday at the River Market pavilions. A preview party is tonight.

Over 700 sculptures will be displayed this weekend. They range in size from a few inches to over ten feet tall. Some are figurative, others are abstract. The sculptures run the gamut in materials from woods to stone to metals.

Tonight the events start at 6:30 with the Preview Party, followed by the Bronze & Brewskis Party from 8:30 to 10:30. Guests at the first party will have the chance to select the winner of a new outdoor sculpture commission.

Tomorrow the show runs from 9am to 5pm and is free. At 1pm and 3pm there will be Segway tours of the Riverfront Park Sculpture Promenade, which cost $25 to participate. At 2pm, a docent led tour of the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden is free.

Sunday, the show runs from 10am to 4pm. There will be a Segway tour at 1pm ($25 to participate) and a docent led tour of the Sculpture Garden at 2pm (free). From 11am to 3pm, several food trucks will be set up for visitors to the show and sale to purchase food.

At 3pm, there will be the presentation of the Peer Award, selected by the participating artists. Also at that time, the winner of the $60,000 Public Art Competition will be presented.

Participating artists for the 2015 Sculpture at the River Market Show and Sale are: