Kingsport unveils 14th annual Sculpture Walk
Kingsport Cultural Arts is excited to announce the 14th annual Sculpture Walk has been installed and is ready for the viewing public to enjoy.
The Sculpture Walk is a program where the city leases sculptures from artists across the country to put on display in the greater downtown area. This year, Kingsport Cultural Arts is bringing six new sculptures to the Model city.
The sculptures can be found at the following locations:
- A Monument to Laborious Mundanity: 118 Shelby Street.
- Circadian Rhythm: 133 Broad Street.
- Eastern Swallowtail: Corner of Commerce Street and E. Market Street.
- Formal-ly 2.0: Corner of W. Center Street and Shelby Street.
- Hammerstrike: 214 Broad Street.
- Iron Circle #6: 231 Cherokee Street.
You can also use the online Sculpture Walk Trail at www.artskingsport.org/trails. Here, you will find out the location of each sculpture, information about the artist and some insights into each creation.
A Monument to Laborious Mundanity – Created by Kevin Vanek. Vanek was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and was drawn to sculpture as an outlet for his creativity. Vanek received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Bowling Green State University and a Master in Fine Arts degree from East Carolina University. Currently, Vanek is the Foundry Director and Professor of Metal Arts at UNC Greensboro, N.C.
Circadian Rhythm – Created by Michael Waller. Waller is a Kinston, N.C. native and has been a professional sculptor for more than 20 years. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from East Carolina University and currently runs WallerFoushee Studios in Hillsborough, N.C. with his wife Leah.
Eastern Swallowtail – Created by Cricket Forge. Cricket Forge is a sculpture fabrication company located in Durham, N.C., and is comprised of seven artists. The studio is a design/build business that specializes in robust, interactive butterflies made with mild steel plate and rod with hand-forged vines, antennae and leaves.
Formal-ly 2.0 – Created by Joseph Bigley. Bigley is a native of North Carolina and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Alfred University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Appalachian State University. Currently, Bigley is a full time lecturer of art at ASU and is the founder of the Western North Carolina Sculpture Center and Park in Lenoir, N.C.
Hammerstrike – Created by Jessica Bradsher. Bradsher is a visual artist specializing in metal sculpture and painting, living and working in Greenville, N.C. Bradsher earned her Master of Fine Arts from East Carolina University and currently teaches visual arts and sculpture at John Pall II Catholic High School in Greeneville.
Iron Circle #6 – Created by Carl Billingsley. Billingsley was born in Oklahoma City, O.K. and earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in 1985. Billingsley taught sculpture at the School of Art and Design from East Carolina University and his works can be found on permanent display in Norway, Israel, Estonia, Japan, China and Brazil.
The Sculpture Walk was made possible through a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission. For more information on the Sculpture Walk, please visit https://bit.ly/3KDVGn1 or call 423-392-8414.
