Some of the sculptures in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden have donned their Santa hats to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!
Tag Archives: Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden
Arkansas Heritage Month – Dr. Dean Kumpuris
Arts Community Development recipient Dean Kumpuris
This week as part of Arkansas Heritage Month’s focus on the arts, we will be looking at seven recipients of the Governor’s Arts Awards from Little Rock.
2016 honoree in Arts Community Development, Dr. Dean Kumpuris has spent the last three decades working to improve the cultural and civic life of Little Rock. In particular, he has focused much of his work on the revitalization of downtown, the development of the River Market, and expansion of Riverfront Park.
Through his vision and efforts to place public art downtown, in less than 10 years, nearly 100 sculptures have been installed in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden, as well as in parks along the Arkansas River and throughout Little Rock. He created the annual fundraiser, Sculpture at the River Market Show and Sale, which attracts thousands of visitors to Little Rock each year and features hundreds of sculptures from internationally recognized artists.
He is a gastroenterologist and has served on the Little Rock City Board of Directors since 1995.
International Jazz Day – Bryan Massey’s JAZZ PLAYER
April 30 is International Jazz Day.
In commemoration of that, here is Bryan Massey, Sr.’s Jazz Player. It is located in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden in Riverfront Park.
Massey, who is an artist and art professor at the University of Central Arkansas, created this piece in honor of Bill Clinton and his love of jazz. It was sculpted in 2009 in honor of the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Clinton Presidential Center.
The sculpture is placed next to another piece of Massey’s called Uptown Saturday Night which depicts a couple dancing to music. Together they present a celebration of music, dance, and having fun.
Sculpture at the River Market Show and Sale this weekend
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.
Sculpture at the River Market launches #LRSculpture Selfie Contest
The Sculpture in the River Market Show and Sale is ushering in a new feature for its ninth year that encourages the public to explore, appreciate, and share public art offerings in Little Rock through social media.
The selfie with a sculpture contest will begin April 11 and continue through April 21. The concept is simple: A person finds their favorite sculpture in Little Rock, takes a photo with it, and tells why it’s a special sculpture while using the hashtag #LRSculpture on either Instagram or Twitter.
“Sculptures are such wonderful art pieces because of their accessibility. Everyone seems to have one that really resonates with them,” Sculpture at the River Market committee member Scott Whiteley Carter said. “We have over 100 sculptures in public places all around the City in addition to hundreds in private homes and businesses, so we’re excited to see what gets selected and shared.”
Photos showing misuse of a sculpture will not be considered.
Winners will be announced April 21. The grand prize includes tickets to the Sculpture Show Preview Party on April 22 at 6:30 p.m. Three additional prizes will be given.
Guests attending the Preview Party will view and vote on the seven semi-finalist proposals for the next public monument sculpture winner to help select the top three finalists. The winner of that competition will be announced Sunday, April 24.
The ninth Sculpture at the River Market Invitational Show and Sale takes place from April 22 – 24, 2016.
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 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.
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 Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. From 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Sunday, Southern Salt and Southern Gourmasian food trucks will be set up at the River Market.
More information is available at sculptureattherivermarket.com/
Happy Easter from the Sculpture Rabbits
Downtown Little Rock has at least three different sculptures of rabbits. Since today is Easter Sunday and the Easter Bunny is making his rounds, it seems a good day to highlight these sculptures.
In the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden, Laurel Peterson Greg’s Bunny Bump has been providing whimsy since 2010.
A few yards from the bumping bunnies, James Paulsen’s Lopsided presents a much more laconic rabbit.
And at the corner of President Clinton Avenue and Sherman Street, Tim Cherry’s Rabbit Reach welcomes visitors to the River Market. It was placed in memory of George Wyatt and Frank Kumpuris by Whitlow Wyatt and the Carey Cox Wyatt Charitable Foundation.
Sculptors announced for 2016 Sculpture at the River Market
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
Little Rock Culture Vulture 