Works Scheduled for May 28
The Arts Council hosts the dedication of eight new sculptures that will be part of the Sculpture WalkAbout Project, now in its second year. The unveiling is scheduled for Friday, May 28 at 6:00 p.m. on the INTRUST Bank Arena’s Cessna Plaza on the southwest corner of the property, with a reception honoring the artists at 7:00 p.m. at CityArts, 334 N. Mead. The public is invited to both events.
“We are pleased at the response from area artists,” Mrs. Timmerman-Bayer, chair of the Arts Council Sculpture WalkAbout Committee, commented. “Through this outdoor sculpture exhibit the public is exposed to a great variety of sculpture styles and we believe that it provides a diverse and exciting physical environment in the Downtown area.”
The artistic program was initiated by Mayor Carl Brewer and is implemented by the Arts Council. Sculpture WalkAbout Wichita showcases work by area artists and contributes to the “walkable” quality of the city which is often mentioned as a key factor in the City’s Downtown initiative. At the ceremony, the Fred Sudderman Award will be presented to a sculptor chosen by Jane Sudderman.
Mayor Brewer, County Commission Chair Karl Peterjohn, Judy Goodpasture, chair of the board of the Arts Council, and Dora Timmerman-Bayer will speak at the event.
The sculptures will remain for a year. The art is chosen from a juried competition and is available for purchase, but must remain until new work is installed next spring. This year’s juror is Dr. Richard Bergen, educator and artist, who created Ad Astra, the sculpture atop the Kansas State Capitol dome. Sculptures are located in Old Town on north Mosley and Mead between Douglas and Second Street and on the Arena plaza.
Sponsors of Sculpture WalkAbout Wichita include the Arts Council, Downtown Development Corporation, Fidelity Bank, Go Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau, TCK-Trust & Financial Advisors, The Paul Ross Charitable Foundation, Joan Beren, and Dr. Alan and Sharon Fearey. Sculpture sites and bases were donated by the Wichita City Council and the Sedgwick County Commission.
