ArtAround Roswell 2017 Kicks Off April 22

ROSWELL, GA -- Ten new works of art will be installed for your viewing pleasure as part of the ArtAround Roswell for 2017.

The sculptures will be on display at selected Roswell area parks from April through December.

These 10 sculptures are in addition to the two sculptures that remain on the tour since last year and one unique gift from a Russian artist that's been added to this year's collection.

ArtAround Roswell is a partnership between the city and the Roswell Arts Fund. Since early 2016, ArtAround Roswell has been transforming the city’s parks into a museum without walls, introducing public art to residents and visitors of all ages.

Several free community-wide enrichment programs will be offered during the length of the tour. The nine-month long exhibition will showcase sculptures with a variety of styles, types and sizes, all on loan from the talented individuals who created them. Works of art will be available for purchase, and at least one work will be acquired by the Roswell Arts Fund as a permanent gift to the city.

“Public art helps to define our sense of place by capturing our history and imagining our future,” said Rochelle Mucha, board chair of the Roswell Arts Fund. “ArtAround captures our city’s modern spirit and southern soul. Art, in its many forms, drives economic and social vitality.”

The artist for each of the selected sculptures receives a stipend, which helps the artists to transport and insure their work of art. The Roswell Arts Fund invited business and civic leaders to sponsor individual artists and by doing so, sponsors will be listed on the identifying plaque for the artwork, as well as communications in print and digital media.

All 10 of this year’s sculptures are sponsored. This year’s sponsors include returning sponsors, Bank of North Georgia, Gas South, Lennar Multifamily and Roswell Inc/CVB board/Visit Roswell. Joining us this year, as new sponsors, are Renasant Bank, Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, ALDI, Turner Construction, Pieper O’Brien Herr and Canton Street Development.

The ArtAround sculptures were selected by a volunteer panel representing the Roswell community, arts organizations, and civic and city representatives. The sculptures selected for the ArtAround Roswell tour, along with the artist’s name and location of installation, are:

• Sentience by David Landis (Heart of Canton Street)
• Smoke by Marc Moulton (Roswell Town Square)Radiance, Gregory Johnson (East Roswell Park – Eves Road Entrance)
• Sweet Pops of Brilliance by Craig Snyder (East Roswell Park by the Lake) Reception by Fred Ajanoga (River Boardwalk at Willeo Road)
• Sunflower by Patricia Vader (Roswell Area Park by the Pond)
• Oak Leaf TripTych by Jim Gallucci (Roswell Area Park near the Playground)
• BorBor 6.1 by William Vannerson (Riverside Park – West Trail)
• Steady by Ben Pierce (Riverside Park – East Trail)
• Interwoven by Aisling Millar McDonald (Big Creek Park – Old Alabama Road Entrance)
• Cycle by Joey Manson (Don White Park under Highway 400 Bridge)
• Robot Conveyor by James Hetherington (Don White Park near Volleyball Courts)
• Sky Maintenance by Dima Alekseev (Don White Park suspended from S.R. 400 Bridge)

The nine-month exhibition will kick off from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22, with a special community-wide event at Heart of Roswell on Canton Street.

Several entertainment, recreation and education opportunities are planned throughout the entire exhibition. More information on events and activities are available on the ArtAround Roswell and Roswell Arts Fund websites.

A new feature to ArtAround, this year, is an app called Otocast, which provides information about the sculpture from the artist. Otocast also offers users an opportunity to vote for their favorite sculpture, submit photos to our monthly photo contest, and contribute to keeping the art in Roswell.

The Roswell Arts Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which works interdependently with the citty as well as many business and civic leaders and organizations. For more information, email board@roswellartsfund.org or visit www.roswellartsfund.org.

Specific information about ArtAround Roswell can be found at www.artaroundroswell.com, or on its Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages.

Photo: "Steady" by Ben Pierce is on display along Riverside Park's East Trail. Credit: Kristal Dixon