Series Of Talks, Workshops Scheduled For Sculpture Walk XI
Sculpture Walk XI takes on a new form with sculpture talks and hands on sculpture workshops. Rolling out as a series, the sculptures for Sculpture Walk XI will be installed separately over several months. The first of which will be installed on September 28, followed by a sculpture talk and workshop.
The artist for the first two sculptures of the walk is Mike Roig. Mike’s pieces are often kinetic – moving effortlessly with the wind, providing great interest. They are expertly wrought in stainless, industrial steel and other durable materials. Mike will install two pieces on Friday, September 28. ‘Moondance’ will be installed at the Ridgefields Circle, and ‘Aerial’ will be installed in Downtown Kingsport. Mike lives and works in Carrboro, NC where he and his wife, author-artist Clay Carmichael, maintain the Heartworks Studio.
“I’ve been making art since I was small, it’s what I came in hard-wired to do,” said Mike. “Working with steel satisfies me in a way that no other medium has. It is tough and durable, yet malleable and open to infinite suggestion. It is heavy and obdurate, and yet can be made to express delicate movements of balance and grace. It can appear earthen and solid, or be polished to light-refracting brilliance.”
On Friday, September 28 the Office of Cultural Arts and the Friends of the Kingsport Public Library invite the public to a reception and talk with artist Mike Roig. The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the talk will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Kingsport Public Library – after 5:30, please enter from the Shelby Street parking lot.
In addition to the presentation on Friday, a hands-on workshop will be held on Saturday, September 29 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Inventor Center, 118 Shelby Street. Participants will have the opportunity to share artistic ideas as well as see the different stages of an in-progress sculpture Mike is working on. Mike will then demonstrate his welding techniques and coach participants in a practice session. Participants must be 18-years-old to participate, and the cost to participate is $50 per person. The workshop is limited to 5 participants.
The next sculpture installments will be in October and November. The October installation will feature artist Charlie Brouwer, with the sculpture installation and talk on Friday, October 12 and the workshop on Saturday, October 13. The November artist is Val Lyle, who will install her sculpture and give a talk on Friday, November 16, followed by a workshop on Saturday, November 17.
To register for the workshop or for or more information, please visit EngageKingsport.com, or call 423-392-8414. For more information on Mike Roig, visit www.mikeroig.com.
