Sculptures are everywhere — parks, homes and public spaces.
Sculpture Tucson brings awareness and attention to sculptures through its annual festival show and sale.
This year, the event is Saturday, March 29, and Sunday, March 30, at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park.
Sculpture Tucson is a nonprofit that highlights sculptures through public art projects, workshops, events and outdoor exhibits.
Robin McArdle, arts and program director for Sculpture Tucson, said that the festival showcases the vast possibilities of sculpture as an artform.
“It’s so difficult for people creating large, especially monumental, 3-D art to really have a place to show their art and for people to see their art. That’s what Sculpture Tucson is all about,” McArdle said.
“We’d love for people to come and experience the beauty of sculpture, the power of sculpture, and to understand that for people that are doing sculpture, it’s not an 8-to-5 where you’re collecting that paycheck every two weeks. This is their passion. This is what they have to do. It’s really important that they have a place to show the world what they create.”
Sculpture Tucson was founded in 2016 by Barbara Grygutis, Steve Kimble and Jeff Timan. The festival began in 2018, with a hiatus during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Besides the festival, the organization will host the “El Corazón de la Escultura” preview party on Friday, March 28. This event will feature music from Mariachi Valenzuela and the Latin jazz group the Amilcar Guevara Trio, along with wine and beer and catered food from Lerua’s Fine Mexican Food.
McArdle said this year, the planning committee wanted to focus on what makes Tucson special.
“People who come and experience this are going to experience what Tucson is all about. We’re a city of gastronomy and wonderful music, and we are really a city dedicated to sculpture,” McArdle said.
During the preview party, attendees will get a sneak peek at the sculptures on display.
The juried show will highlight sculptures from over 60 artists. The 3-D pieces range from tabletop size to monumental, large-scale sculptures.
The sculptures are created in a range of materials.
“We have it in every medium, from wood, clay, glass, metal,” McArdle said.
“It’s just every medium that you can think of, that you can create three-dimensional artwork with. It’s a big effort to get this work out, so they don’t take it a lot of places. You’re working on a huge steel monumental sculpture, and it can end up in your studio for years.
“This is an opportunity to bring your work out and for the public to really experience it and to meet the artists… The artists are all there all weekend.”
Some of the artists work with unconventional materials, such as found objects. Sculptor Ralph Prata collects bullet shells at Mount Lemmon and incorporates them into his sculptures, and Joe Musselman makes 3-D artwork using musical instruments.
The artists are coming from 10 states, including New York, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, New Orleans and South Dakota.
Many of the artists will bring multiple pieces to the festival. Some bring as many as 10 to 15 pieces to the event.
McArdle said that many artists transport their sculptures in trucks and trailers.
McArdle said this year, the festival’s footprint has been expanded to include more artists. Guests are encouraged to make it an all-day experience, as food trucks will sell dishes.
McArdle said there are many collectors around Tucson.
“People have mentioned different locations where you drive by this place, and you see 10 or 15 pieces of art and sculpture in their yard,” McArdle said. “Tucson embraces sculpture. Our whole mission is to get sculpture out everywhere.”
McArdle said private collectors, sculpture parks, businesses and organizations had purchased sculptures.
Art will also be displayed at Sculpture Tucson’s headquarters, also located in Brandi Fenton Memorial Park.
A current exhibit on display in the Post House Gallery, Julia Arriola’s “Remember Me: Bring My Story to Light,” brings attention to the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women with giant three-dimensional red dresses.
This exhibition will be up through Friday, May 30.
The exhibit “The Kinetic Factor” is on display in its sculpture park. It spotlights the work of 16 sculptors, who explore movement in their pieces and will be on display through May 30.
“When you drive down River Road, you see these kinetic pieces. We’ve had a lot of wind, so it’s been exciting. They’re all moving around. People are driving in, saying, ‘What is this?’” McArdle said.
El Corazón de la Escultura Preview Party
WHEN: 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 28
WHERE: Brandi Fenton Memorial Park, 3420 E. River Road, Tucson
COST: $100
INFO: 520-334-5871 sculpturetucson.org
Sculpture Tucson Festival Show and Sale
WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 29, and Sunday, March 30
WHERE: Brandi Fenton Memorial Park, 3420 E. River Road, Tucson
COST: Free
INFO: 520-334-5871 sculpturetucson.org
