Sculpture Vulture: Michael Warrick’s MOCKINGBIRD TREE installed in 2016

Posted on April 21, 2018 by Scott

Photo by LRCVB

On April 21, 2016, Michael Warrick’s Mockingbird Tree sculpture was installed at the corner of Chenal Parkway and Chenal Valley Drive.

The piece was commissioned by Sculpture at the River Market after winning the 2015 Public Monument Sculpture competition.

The eighteen (18) foot tall sculpture is made out of stainless steel. It presents a fanciful version of a tree with cloud-like foliage. Nestled in the tree are bronze mockingbirds (Arkansas’ state bird).

Warrick is a professor in the Department of Art at the University of Arkansas Little Rock and has been an artist and educator for 30 years. His work has resulted in more than 150 solo and group exhibitions and has been represented in 29 private collections and 34 public venues.

Open Studios Little Rock today

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Scott

oslr_logo_goldred_ac-line The City of Little Rock Arts+Culture Commission is thrilled to announce its first-ever Open Studios Little Rock.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, gain exclusive access to 30 artist studios and cultural institutions that will open their doors and give you a firsthand look at their creative process. The lineup of studios visits includes artists working in the visual and performing arts, plus cultural institutions that will open their respective studios for guided tours and demonstrations.

Referred to as a city-wide exhibition, Open Studios gives you unparalleled access to artists living and working in Little Rock. Studio visits are free and open to the public.
To plan your Open Studio visits:

Download the Open Studios map (click here)
Visit the Open Studios Welcome Booth in the Creative Corridor the day of the event. Complimentary coffee and doughnuts will be provided, plus the opportunity to tour two participating studios – Matt McCleod Fine Art and Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s Education Annex. The Welcome Booth will be located in front of Matt McLeod Fine Art, 108 West 6^th Street, 72201.

Artists who are unable to welcome the public into their studios will showcase their work at the Alternative Space hosted at the West Central Community Center, 8616 Colonel Glenn Road, 72204.

During Open Studios, the colorful “Open Studio” signs will alert you to Open Studio spaces.

SALES

Sales are handled by each artist and we do not take a percentage. You may sell prints, other artistic projects and commission customized work for the future. It is suggested that you are equipped to accept credit cards.

Participating Artists (as of 5.15.2017)

Adrian Quintanar Pottery
Catherine Rodgers Contemporary Art
Co-Op Art
Elizabeth Weber
Felice Farrell
Gary Cawood
Glenda McCune
Ike Garlington
Jeff Horton
Jennifer Cox Coleman
Jennifer Perren
Jerry Phillips’ Studio
Jimmy Parks
Linda Ferstl Watercolors
Little Rock Violin Shop
Marisa Cook
Maritza and Terry Bean Artists
Mary Pat Tate
Matt McLeod Fine Art
MichaelWardArt
Michael Warrick
New Deal Studios and Gallery, featuring the work of Jeff Waddle
Ruth Pasquine
Sandy Furrer, Certified Scottish Country Dance Teacher
Sandra Sell

Participating Cultural Institutions:

Arkansas Arts Center
Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s Education Annex
Mosaic Templars Cultural Center featuring the work of Nina Robinson

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

Michael Warrick’s Mockingbird Tree wins Sculpture at the River Market competition

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Scott

Michael Warrick was the winner of the 2015 Sculpture at the River Market Public Art Monument Competition. His winning piece – Mockingbird Tree – will be installed at the corner of Chenal Parkway and Chenal Valley Drive.

Mockingbird Tree is a tree with bubble forms for foliage plus a pair of Arkansas’ state birds. It will be 18′ tall by 11′ wide by 7′ deep. The tree will be stainless steel and the mockingbirds will be bronze.

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: