Sculpture in the Park celebrates its 40th anniversary this month. The annual show and sale will bring more than 2,000 sculptures to Benson Sculpture Garden. We talked to business manager Amy Huggins who highlighted six must-see sculptors and the pieces they’re bringing to this year’s event.
Amanda Markel — Montana-based abstract artist Amanda Markel tells stories with her bronze animal sculptures, which employ the use of positive and negative space. Each piece illustrates the connection between the positive and negative elements of life. “I think most often my work depicts the tension between two pieces of a whole. Persistence through difficulty creates a piece about resilience. Finding a place to feel the intensity of both joy and pain creates a piece about harmony. I want to help people understand that without a negative there isn’t a positive. We need both, and they are inseparable.” See her bronze wolf, titled “Monument Mountain Heart,” at the show.
Dwight Davidson — Nature and mythology are two dominant themes you’ll find in Denver-based artist Dwight Davidson’s bronze, stoneware and bas relief sculptures, along with a healthy sense of humor. “The subject of my sculpture has almost always been about animals, insects, plants, and elements from nature,” Davidson said. “The natural world, and its mysteries and wonder inspire me to explore it’s representation with a sense of humor, realism and mythology.” Stop to see his piece “Awakening Consciousness,” which features a face incorporated on the shell of a turtle.
Michelle Lamb —Strategically arranging found objects, Littleton artist Michelle Lamb creates sculptures that are akin to visual riddles. “Making ‘trash into treasure’ is an alchemy more noble than the ethical necessity of recycling,” she said. “Being a multi-disciplinary artist, I believe versatility and diversity freshens creativity, demands exploration and fuels the fire for learning and reinvention.” See her piece “Chevron” at the upcoming event.
Carey “Moose” Hosterman – Loveland-based artist Carey Hosterman is an award-winning competitive snow sculptor who also creates jewelry — everything from stunning hammered silver bracelets to necklaces featuring fossils and in-laid turquoise — and life-size and monumental commissioned sculptures. He opened Rocky Mountain Bronze Shop in 1994, Loveland’s longest running bronze finishing shop. See his whimsical bronze sculpture titled “Watchful Rabbit” at Sculpture in the Park this year.
Christopher White – After studying wildlife management at Texas Tech University and anatomy at The National Institute of Fine Arts, San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, Christopher White pioneered his “bronzewood meld” technique, which allows him to create one-of-a-kind pieces that transition from bronze to wood. While he now lives in Loveland with his wife and two children, he returns to West Texas to hunt for rare pieces of woods atop the rocky ledges in the canyonlands. He uses these treasures to create exceptionally unique sculptures, like “Above the Thunder,” which you can see at the upcoming show.
Errol Beauchamp — New this year to Sculpture in the Park, Errol Beauchamp creates bronze and stainless-steel sculptures that depict motion designed by nature. Beauchamp’s lifelong observation and research of natural forms have influenced his work and sculptural story telling. See his piece, “Leading the Way,” which was inspired by the scissortail birds he commonly saw growing up in Texas. “Their tails crossing in flight like scissors is unparalleled beauty in nature,” he said. “Yet the true elegance and inspiration takes form in the graceful movement in flight, and the selfless desire to serve the greater good in leadership.” See the piece at the upcoming show.
MORE ABOUT THE EVENT
The 40th annual Sculpture in the Park returns to Loveland Aug. 9-11, 2024. Considered a mecca of international talent, the annual show and sale transforms beloved Benson Sculpture Garden into an art lovers dream come true with over 2,000 sculptures (in several mediums including bronze, stone, glass, metal, wood, ceramic, and mixed media) created by 160 award winning artists from around the world for viewing and purchase.
The Loveland High Plains Arts Council, a private non-profit established in 1984, proudly presents the annual event. Loveland’s Sculpture in the Park Show and Sale is unique because every visitor can meet and discuss art with the artist who creates it. Eighteen new artists will participate this year. Artists participating in the show are selected by a jury composed of experienced sculptors representing different styles and mediums. Traditionally, about one-fourth of the selected artists are new to Sculpture in the Park. Returning artists are required to display newly produced work, helping to ensure the annual event feels fresh and unique each year.
Sculpture in the Park 2024 includes a ticketed Patron Party on Friday, Aug. 9, and the public show and sale on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 11 from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tickets for the show and sale may be purchased at the gate for $10 (event entry is free for children ages 14 and under). For more information, visit www.sculptureinthepark.org.
Photos Credit: Loveland High Plains Arts Council
