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Nationally-renowned Sculpture in the Park show celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and features new highlights you don't want to miss — so be sure to head for Loveland's Benson Sculpture Garden for a perfect August outing.
The first annual Sculpture in the Park show, held in 1984 with 50 local artists participating, saw 2,000 people attending and purchasing $50,000 worth of sculpture. Today, the show is the largest outdoor juried sculpture show in the country, with sales of more than $1 million and close to 200 artists displaying representational, stylized and abstract sculpture in a variety of mediums including bronze, stone, wood, ceramic, glass, metal and mixed media.
TO BEGIN
Make your first stop the tent dedicated to "The Magnificent Seven" — the seven artists who have participated in every one of the Sculpture in the Park shows. "It's a nice way to see how the event has evolved from a representational Western bronze show to one that includes a wide variety of styles and media," says Polly Juneau, the show's business manager. The seven artists are Gerald Balciar, Jack Kreutzer, Nick Moffett, Dennis Sohocki, George Walbye (a founder of the show), Garland Weeks and Curtis Zabel. Each will display a retrospective of his work, making it possible for visitors to obtain some of their early sculptures as well as their new work.
Next, you might head for the display of the first sculpture sold at the inaugural show, Tres Tortugas by Jack Kreutzer. In addition to viewing this work, "People will have the opportunity to buy a piece of history," Juneau comments. A limited number of productions of this sculpture will be available for sale in both bronze and stainless steel.
NEW IN THE GARDEN
A special feature for the anniversary celebration is the creation of 25 bronze reliefs by the 25 sculptors who have exhibited most often in the show. Each artist has created a piece representative of their work.
The bronze reliefs adorn Benson Sculpture Park's most recent improvement, a covered restroom, whose design complements the architectural style used in the park. Every year, the Loveland High Plains Arts Council uses proceeds of the show for park enhancements, such as sculptures, landscaping and facilities. Sometimes described as one of the most unique sculpture gardens in the nation, with 116 pieces on permanent display, the park is open to the public throughout the year and annually draws tens of thousands of visitors from around the world.
Juneau comments, "We are viewing the restroom as another piece of art in the park." Visitors will be able to acquire copies of the 25 bronze reliefs at the tent, Take Home a Piece of the Park.
ALWAYS FRESH
In addition to these 25th anniversary highlights, visitors can, as always, anticipate a refreshingly new and diversified look. To ensure this, about one fourth of the selected artists are new to the show, and returning artists are required to display newly produced work.
In addition to being one of only a handful of shows that have made it to 25 years, the show is juried. "Juried is important," Juneau emphasizes. "It helps us maintain the quality of work and keeps the show refreshed."
ABOUT THE SHOW
The 25th Sculpture in the Park show will be held in Loveland's Benson Sculpture Garden on Saturday, August 9, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, August 10, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults; children 14 and under are free. A private patron party on Friday evening will offer those who have bought at past shows the opportunity to be the first to see and buy this year's art.
Published in Colorado Expression Architecture & Design of the West, Summer 2008
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