Based on public reaction to the 19 outdoor sculptures that made up the first SculptureTour Salina in downtown Salina, Phyll Klima is looking forward to the second round.
Klima, director of Salina Downtown, Inc., 120 W. Ash, said it was awesome to see people of all ages and walks of life interact with the sculptures, which were set on a three-block route along Santa Fe Avenue and adjacent streets.
“I frequently saw people standing at statues, posing and taking pictures and touching the art,” she said.
Those sculptures now have been removed to make room for a new set of outdoor sculptures, due to be unveiled May 19 during a 3 to 6 p.m. premiere party in the downtown Lee District.
The success of the first SculptureTour Salina attracted more applicants for the second round, Klima said. Last year, 10 artists were selected to display 19 works. This year, 16 artists will contribute 24 sculptures.
Profiles of the 16 artists begin today in the Journal and will conclude May 18.
Five returning sculptors
Five sculptors are returning with new works this year, including Susan Geissler, of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; Gregory Johnson, of Cumming, Ga.; Louise Peterson, of Guffey, Colo.; Conrad Snider, of Newton; and Glenn Zweygardt, of Alfred Station, N.Y.
New artists selected this year include Fredrico Aguirre, of North Las Vegas; Marianne Caroselli, of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas; Fred Conlon, of Salt Lake City; Tom Ford, of Gillette, Wyo.; Julie Jones, of Fort Collins, Colo.; Sandra Messina, of Las Vegas; Pokey Park, of Tucson, Ariz.; Nathan Pierce, of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Lawrence Starck, of Loveland, Colo.; Greg Todd, of Greeley, Colo.; and Felix Velez, of Loveland.
SculptureTour Salina was created to be a permanent downtown attraction featuring changing exhibits, Klima said. The 24 sculptures by this year’s selected artists will be on display through April 2013, and then a new set of sculptures will be unveiled in May.
“It’s a continuous process now,” she said. “As soon as the new sculptures are up, we start taking applications for next year’s sculptures.”
The premiere party for SculptureTour Salina 2012 will include music performances, dance ensembles and a fencing demonstration at various downtown locations. A full list of entertainment acts and times can be found at salinadowntown.com.
Eight downtown restaurants also will participate in a “Taste the Lee D” event to showcase their cuisine, including Coop’s Pizzeria, 123B S. Santa Fe; Cozy Inn, 108 N. Seventh; El Atoron, 117 N. Santa Fe; Kanza Yansa! Deli and Bakery, 157 N. Seventh; Martinelli’s Little Italy, 158 S. Santa Fe; Mokas Bakery & Bistro, 109 N. Santa Fe; Santa Fe Phillies & Subs, 145 S. Santa Fe; and Taco John’s 303 S. Santa Fe.
Cost of “Taste the Lee D” is $15 a person. Tickets go on sale beginning Monday at Salina Running Co., 122 S. Santa Fe, and Land Title Services, 136 N. Seventh, and on the day of the event at the Salina Media Group remote booth while supplies last.
In conjunction with SculptureTour Salina 2012, Zweygardt and three other artists — Christine Ehmann, of Alfred Station, and Rich Bergen and Dee Warren, both of Salina — will host a sculpture symposium May 15-18 at Spilman Plaza on South Santa Fe.
The four artists will create stone sculptures during the week, which the public is invited to view.
“We hope a lot of mystery will be excised through the symposium, such as ‘How do you do that?’ ” Zweygardt said.
