St. Charles Launches New Website For Sculpture In The Park

From St. Charles Sculpture: In preparation for the May 2018 opening of its Sculpture in the Park exhibition, the St. Charles Park Foundation, St. Charles Park District and Sculpture in Park committee have launched a website dedicated to this popular annual celebration of public art which takes place in Mt. St. Mary Park. The address for the new website is www.stcsculpture.org. In addition to providing all relevant information about the event, the website will, for the first time, allow interested artists the opportunity to apply directly online."The online application process will streamline the administration of the event, for both artists and staff," said Erika Young, Public Relations & Marketing Manager.

"Being able to submit an application through an event's website has become a standard function for juried shows and exhibitions within the artist community."The deadline for applications to this year's event is February 7, 2018. Interested artists can also find a complete prospectus on the website which conveys important information such as sculpture size, materials, installation requirements and insurance.Of further interest to contributing artists, Sculpture in the Park announced that the amount of its artist honorarium this year has doubled, from $500 to $1000 for each accepted sculptor. Also new to the program this year is a special, one-year installation of a selected piece that will be placed on display in the East Garden at the Baker Community Center, for which the winning artist will receive a $1,500 honorarium. The guiding Sculpture in Park committee for this event will also award a "Committee Award" of $500 to an exemplary sculptor who will be recognized at the "Sculptor's Reception" to be held on June 15, 2018, at Mt. St. Mary Park.Visitors to the newly-designed website will be able to learn more about the history of Sculpture in the Park, view photographs from each year of the program's history, and download a map for a self-guided walking tour through the exhibit at Mt. St. Mary Park.Launched in 2006, Sculpture in the Park has been a prime example of interagency cooperation within the City of St. Charles. From 2006 to 2009, the St. Charles Park District partnered with the Downtown St. Charles Partnership to bring an awareness of public art to residents and visitors to the St. Charles community.

From 2010 to the present, the St. Charles Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, has partnered with the St. Charles Park District to manage and promote the acclaimed annual event, which reaches a population of 48,000 people.An exceedingly popular program, Sculpture in the Park event is made possible by the generous contributions of both corporate sponsors and individual donors. Parties interested in contributing to this year's program can learn more about sponsorship opportunities through the "Donation" page on the website. In addition to underwriting the costs involved in mounting the exhibition, such donations enable the St. Charles Park Foundation to acquire a piece of sculpture from the exhibit for permanent installation in Mt. St. Mary Park or other park district facility. Currently, 13 sculptures can be seen throughout the park district, including 11 in Mt. St. Mary Park, one in Baker Memorial Park and one in Lincoln Park. Of these, four sculptures were donations by generous community members and sculptors.Sculpture in the Park was designed to create awareness of the sculptural arts and the synergy that can be achieved when such works are placed within the natural beauty of a park environment. Such works often interpret elements of nature in both abstract and realistic ways, providing innumerable opportunities for enjoyment, reflection and thought-provoking discussion.Sculptures are chosen by the Sculpture in Park committee who evaluate the submissions from local, regional and national sculptors.

Their goal is to select pieces that will be a great "fit" within the 29-acre expanse of Mt. St. Mary Park and reflect its scenic beauty on the banks of the Fox River. A biking and walking path loops through the exhibit space, enticing visitors into the park and inviting passers-by to stop and appreciate the art on display.Past contributing artists include local sculptors Guy Bellaver; Jane L. Davidson; Douglas Eageny; Ray Kobald; James Lax; Howard Russo; and Todd Willing. Other sculptors have represented the greater Chicagoland and Midwest region and come from as far away as Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Kansas, New York and Florida.For more information on Sculpture in the Park, call Erika Young at 630-513-4319.

Image Via Pixabay