Sculpture_Symposium

Theme: Sculpture in the Public Realm
        Sculpture is the most public and permanent form of visual art expression. Throughout history sculpture has been a way in which cultures, nations, cities, states and communities have told their story or expressed their sense of who they were or who they aspire to be. Throughout much of human history sculpture has been a significant part of public architecture, sometimes to the point where the architecture seemed almost a framework for sculptural expression such as the medieval cathedrals in Europe or the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
        By the mid 20th century, sculpture and architecture had largely parted ways, although in the U.S. many communities began to create public art commissions. In the post WWII era many great works of public sculpture were created for the public realm but sometimes caused controversy and seemed irrelevant or alien to people and their communities. Today, there is a very exciting dynamic occurring where art, architecture and landscape are beginning to converge once again and throughout the nation and internationally environments are being created that often invite public participation and interaction such as the Millennium Park in Chicago. Our symposium will explore this dramatically changing circumstance and the challenges and opportunities it presents for sculptors.
        The city of San Angelo itself, is in a very dynamic mode artistically with its relatively new City Public Art Commission, Angelo State University's newly adopted 1% Art Program and a vast range of civic improvement projects. The Chicken Farm Art Center has for over three decades hosted artists from around the nation and has been the scene of major bronze casting, blacksmith and metal fabrication and home to one of the nation's best known studio potters, owner Roger Allen. The San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts has gained recognition as one of the finest small art museums in America having received the prestigious Institute of Museum and Library Services National Museum Service Award in a ceremony at the White House in 2003 and the only museum in America to receive the American Institute of Architects Community Service Award. The Museum is the host of the San Angelo National Ceramic Competition which Ceramics Monthly called the "premier clay show in America."
        There are a growing number of artists and musicians who are moving into San Angelo with an exciting music scene led by the internationally known Los Lonely Boys and a resurgent downtown. A wide range of community organizations have converged in San Angelo to help make this Sculpture Symposium an educational and entertaining opportunity for professional sculptors and students.

Major works by Steve Teeters and Chase Yarborough, Davis Cornell, Phil Simpson, Lee Littlefield and Joe Barrington will be exhibited at the Museum and other sites in San Angelo. Please note there are several presenting artists and leading public art proponents who will be announced shortly.

Thursday, November 12
6:30 pm
A special party for early arrivals, program organizers and sponsors to be held in the home of a supporter of the Art Museum

Friday, November 13
9:00 am
Workshop for Early Birds- in the sculpture studios of Angelo State University including a paper casting demonstration led by ASU art instructor, John Vinklarek and a casting pour with workshop participants and ASU faculty.

11:30 am -1:15 pm
Lunch on your own- The Houston Harte University Center food court will be available to all participants. The gallery in the center will be open and will feature small works by members of the Texas Atomic Iron Commission.

Symposium in the Carr Education Fine Arts Building will address the theme "Sculpture in the Public Realm." Internationally known sculptor Albert Paley will illustrate a presentation and discuss his experiences and commissions. Cynthia Graves (Owner of Guest Curator and Chair of the Santa Fe Art Commission and Chair of Art in Public Place Committee of Santa Fe) and Joe Arredondo (Director of Landmark Arts the Galleries of the School of Art, Texas Tech University) will further illuminate our topic. There will be plenty of opportunity for open dialogue with the audience. Refreshments will be served during a brief break.

4:30 to 5:30 pm
Participants are encouraged to visit the adjacent Houston Harte University Center gallery featuring small works by members of the Texas Atomic Iron Commission.

6:00 to 7:00 pm
Reception with refreshments at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts and opening of an exhibition of small sculpture by students and professional sculptors attending the symposium in the adjacent Coop Gallery. Larger works by several invited sculptors will be on display on the Museum grounds and in several prominent locations throughout the community.

7:00 to 11:00 pm
Bronze-Blues-Boots-Burgers-Beer on Oakes Street one block from Art Museum. This event will feature a burger bar (free of charge for all symposium attendees). You will meet local artists and community people and be welcomed warmly to San Angelo. There will be blues music all night featuring some outstanding artists and an exhibit of smaller works in the adjacent world famous M.L. Leddy Boot Shop and Factory. From 8:00 to 10:00 pm there is a jazz concert next door at the Historic Cactus Hotel featuring Kat Edmonson and discounted tickets will be offered for the concert by the San Angelo Cultural Affairs Council. The party will last non-stop. If you attend the jazz concert the party kicks back into high gear afterwards with rollicking music from noted blues performer Happy Fat until midnight. Food will be served continuously from 7:00 to 11:00 pm.

Saturday, November 14

2.        The Texas Atomic Iron Commission will present a mold making workshop in the morning. All participants may observe but only twenty participants will be able to make an actual mold. This will be done on a first come sign-up basis.
3.        There will be a running iron pour presented by the Texas Atomic Iron Commission and led by Kurt Dyrhaug (Professor, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas), Greg Reuter (Professor, Texas A& M Corpus Christi), Geoffrey Broderick (Professor, Abilene Christian University), Robbie Barber (Professor, Baylor University, Waco, Texas) and Jack Gron (Art Department Chair, College of Liberal Arts, Texas A & M University, Corpus Christ, Texas).
4.        Dallas sculptor Sherry Owens will present a one hour image show and discussion regarding her public commissions and experience as a sculptor over the past thirty years. She will present from 10 to 11 am and 2 to 3 pm. Sherry will be featured in a major retrospective by five major West Texas art museums this coming summer.
5.        There will be workshop by Dallas stone sculptor Davis Cornell.
6.        There will also be a demonstration by a leading blacksmith and an open forge. We are currently talking to several leading sculptors who work in the mediums of wood or stone to be presenters (to be announced shortly).
7.        Public announcement of the creation of a San Angelo Cultural District to be led by the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts 11:30 am. Gary Gibbs, Director of the Texas Commission on the Arts will make the announcement and participants will include legislative representatives and city and community officials.

Fairfield Inn & Suites
1459 Knickerbocker Road
San Angelo, Texas 76904
325-482-8400
Rates: Junior Suite $119.00 plus tax 1 king bed & kitchen
Studio Suite: $129.00 plus tax 1 king bed, fold-out sofa & kitchen
1 Bedroom Suite: $139.00 plus tax 2 queen beds, fold-out sofa & kitchen
*Plus 13% tax
Be certain to mention Sculpture Network of Texas when booking the room.

San Angelo Inn & Conference Center
They are offering a rate of $79.00 plus tax Single through Quad occupancy rate.
Be certain to mention Sculpture Network of Texas when booking the room.

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Registration Fee:

______ Professional $100 (includes November 2009-October 2010 Sculpture Network of Texas membership dues of $50)

______ Student $75 (includes November 2009-October 2010 Sculpture Network of Texas membership dues of $25)

______ Please, sign me up for the Saturday morning mold making workshop. This is limited to the first twenty to sign up. There is no limit to the number of participants who may observe this workshop.

Payment Method: (Make checks payable to SAMFA Sculpture Symposium)

___ Personal Check ___ Cashier's Check ___ Money Order

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND RETURN TO WITH PAYMENT TO:
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts
Attn: Gracie Fernandez
One Love Street
San Angelo, Texas 76903