Tag Archives: Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden

Governor’s Arts Awards presented today

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Arts Community Development recipient Dean Kumpuris

Arts Community Development recipient Dean Kumpuris

The Arkansas Arts Council will present the 2016 Governor’s Arts Awards today at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion. Sponsored annually by the Arkansas Arts Council, the Governor’s Arts Awards recognize individuals and corporations for outstanding contributions to the arts in Arkansas.

The recipients were nominated by the public and then selected by an independent panel of arts professionals from around the state. Each recipient will be honored at a ceremony in the spring and will receive an original work of art created by Arkansas artist Kelly Edwards.

Lifetime Achievement Award
Suzanne Vining Kunkel, Little Rock

Arts Community Development Award
Dr. Dean Kumpuris, Little Rock

Arts in Education Award
The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff

Corporate Sponsorship of the Arts Award
Deltic Timber, El Dorado

Folklife Award
Sonny Burgess and The Legendary Pacers, Newport

Individual Artist Award
RB McGrath, Jacksonville

Patron Award
Dr. Thomas A. Bruce, Little Rock

Judges Recognition Award
Theresa Timmons-Shamberger, Maumelle

The selection committee members included Mildred Franco, Arkansas Arts Council board, Pine Bluff; Ed Clifford, The Jones Center, Bentonville; Aj Smith, University of Arkansas at Little Rock; Chris James, The Roots Art Connection, North Little Rock; and Cathy Cunningham, Southern Bancorp Community Partners, Helena.

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

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0202PeaceIn 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.

Dr. Dean Kumpuris to be honored by Arkansas Arts Council

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Dean Kumpuris 2014Dean Kumpuris will receive the Governor’s Arts Award for Arts Community Development in early 2016.  The Arkansas Arts Council announced today the recipients for next year’s awards.

Kumpuris is being honored for his three decades of work 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.  He is also the Chairman of the UALR Board of Visitors and a past member of the Advertising and Promotion Commission.

Veterans Day Sculpture Vulture, Kathleen Caricof’s Stars and Stripes sculpture in War Memorial Park

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Veterans Day is a good day to visit 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 including several in Riverfront Park and the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden.

Sculpture Vulture: Lorri Acott’s Who Rescued Who

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DSC_1091Little 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"

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.

Sculpture Vulture: RENEWAL RITUAL

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DSC_0650 Another of the new sculptures recently installed in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden is Denny Haskew’s Renewal Ritual.

It depicts ten adults sitting in pairings facing each other.  They are made of bronze and are situated atop a stone slab base.

DSC_0654Haskew notes that in creating the piece he wanted “to show the ritual used by a couple to renew their commitment to one another, then using many colors or people and different conversations between different genders it shows society ability to sit down and converse with one another.”

Though the individual men and women appear similar, due to coloration of the bronze, each person is unique. This reinforces Haskew’s tenet of the differences and similarities of people.

The sculpture was purchased by Sculpture at the River Market.

Sculpture Vulture: Casey G. Horn’s TRANQUILITY

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DSC_0658One of the newest sculptures in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden is Casey G. Horn’s Tranquility.  

Made of bronze and stainless steel, the inspiration for the piece was the Chinese word (character) 安 Ān: peaceful, content, safe.

As Horn says: You can derive a story from the composition of the character. It breaks down into two parts: ornamental roof and woman. Read in this way,  “a woman is at peace in a beautiful home.”

The curved shapes in Tranquility mimic the lines in some other nearby sculptures as well as the foliage in the park.  However, it is unlike any of the other sculptures. It both stands out and blends in with its surroundings.

Tranquility was purchased by the Sculpture at the River Market committee.