Kingsport Chamber News on Public Sculpture
Posted by DownTown Kingsport Square on December 15, 2007
Local Artist/Philanthropist donates Sky Wedge to City of Kingsport
The Cultural Arts Division of the City of Kingsport is pleased to announce that local artist and philanthropist Alice Frederick has purchased the sculpture Sky Wedge for the City of Kingsport.
Sky Wedge is one of eleven sculptures placed in Downtown Kingsport as part of the Kingsport’s first annual Sculpture Walk. Hank Foreman, director and chief curator of the TurchinCenter for Visual Arts served as the exhibits curator. Foreman selected pieces that represent a great diversity of styles, materials, techniques and ideas. The Sky Wedge is a steel, bronze and cast glass sculpture by Alfred Station, New York artist Glenn Zweygardt. Zweygardt created Sky Wedge to as an homage to human survival and creativity. ‘Finding one’s place in a relationship with nature is the theme of my sculpture – while working with material such as metal and stone, a relationship between nature and myself is formed. Further, I want to tell stories and comment on my collective life experience and my perception of a collective consciousness,” explained Zweygardt.
Indeed, Mrs. Jennifer Egan is equally interested in purchasing Yo-Yo’s Muse – located a the intersection of Broad and New Streets — for the City. Mrs. Egan has committed $10,000 toward the purchase price of this $32,000 mobile sculpture. Yo-Yo’s Muse is a kinetic sculpture, spinning, drifting and floating in response to the breeze. At the base of the sculpture is a cello-shaped form. Mrs. Egan recently lost her mother who prior to her death suffered from Alzheimer’s. “My mother was a cellist. This piece is just beautiful and I’d love for it to stay in Kingsport and remind us all of the gift of music and art,” said Egan. Egan’s commitment has already been matched by a $3,000 contribution from anonymous benefactors. Hopefully others will help keep Yo-Yo’s Muse in Kingsport.
Other pieces of the Sculpture Walk Exhibition have also become favorites of the community. All are available for purchase. The pieces are on loan until April 2008 when they will be return to the artists unless they have been purchased. The 2008-2009 Sculpture Walk will be installed in May with a grand opening scheduled for May 29. The Sculpture Walk is a project of the Kingsport Public Art Committee, assisted by the Cultural Arts Division and in partnership with the Arts Council of Greater Kingsport. Roy Harmon serves as chairman of the committee and T. Arthur Scott, Jr, as past chairman. Other members of the Public Art Committee include Mary Banks, Lewis Bausell, Chris Campbell, Bob Lawrence, Keener Mallicote, Judy Smith and Ann Vachon.
The Sculpture Walk Exhibition is primarily funded through private contributions as well as through the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Arts Builds Communities programs. Exhibition sponsors include: Absolute Communications, Americourt Hotels, Anonymous, Bank of Tennessee, Wayne Basler, Bush Hog, LLC, Downtown Kingsport Association, Eastman Chemical Company, Eastman Credit Union, Larry and Jennifer Egan, First Tennessee Bank, Sandra Gonce, Roy and Liza Harmon, Valerie Joh, Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, Kingsport Convention and Visitors Bureau, Kingsport Times News, Pal’s Sudden Service, Rotary club of Kingsport, Wellmont Health Systems, Woodland Garden and Art Guild.
Donations for next year’s temporary exhibition are currently being accepted and can be mailed to Sculpture Walk Exhibition, Arts Council of Greater Kingsport, 1200 East Center Street, Kingsport, TN 37660. To contribute to the purchase of Yo-Yo’s Muse or to inquire for purchase of other sculptures, contact the Cultural Arts Division at 423-392-8414.
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