Seward Johnson’s Life-Sized Sculptures to Return to Belmar Area

The life-sized sculptures of every day people that inhabited downtown Spring Lake in the fall of 2016 will be returning to the shopping district this spring, much to the delight of local residents and businesses.

The free, outdoor exhibit of sixteen bronze sculptures by world-renowned sculptor and New Jersey native Seward Johnson will be on display starting April 6 through the July 4th weekend.

A collaboration between the Seward Johnson Atelier, Inc. and the Spring Lake Business Improvement District, the Opening Ceremony will be held at 12 noon on April 6 at the Duggan Memorial Building (313 Washington Avenue) to welcome visitors from the tri-state area to Spring Lake to view the sculptures. The public is welcome, and refreshments will be served after the ceremony.

A self-guided tour map will be available at the Spring Lake Public Library as well as in many local businesses.

“We have been working with the Seward Johnson Atelier’s curatorial staff to bring a collection of sculptures that are different from the 2016 exhibit. We will have items from Mr. Johnson’s series, Celebrating the Familiar, because of its wide public appeal, as well as from Icons Revisited. We selected sculptures that we think everyone will enjoy,” said Spring Lake Councilwoman and exhibit co-curator Syd Whalley. “We have a special treat in store for everyone who sees Uninvited Advice which will be on display near the flagpole at the lake.”

Sculpture locations have been selected to provide the best photo opportunities for people viewing the sculptures. The sculptures, weighing between 350 and 900 pounds, are set upon steel discs that include bronze plaques showing the name of the sculpture and date of creation. When the sculptures arrive on large tractor trailers during the week prior to the opening, the Spring Lake Department of Public Works, under the watchful eye of Frank Phillips, will use heavy equipment to carefully move them into place.

Dawn McDonough, Executive Director of the Business Improvement District (BID) and exhibit co-curator, said, “Our community partners, including the Spring Lake 5, Circle BMW, and Peter Cancro have collaborated with us to enhance the visitors’ experience of the exhibit. The whole town is excited to have this fabulous collection of sculptures here for a few months. I am personally looking forward to the fun we’ll have with the sculpture across the street from Joe’s Deli on Warren Avenue as you enter Spring Lake.”

The exhibit is privately funded through monetary donations from local businesses and private individuals. Individuals and businesses that would like to make a donation to support the exhibit and the related informational materials may contact Ms. McDonough at info@visitspringlake.com.

East Coast residents are familiar with Mr. Johnson and his work through the 42-acre Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. Several local libraries offer free passes to the sculpture garden

For Further Information about the Spring Lake exhibit, contact:Syd Whalley at sydwhalley@icloud.com, or 310-994-9602, orDawn McDonough at info@visitspringlake.com, or 732-449-0037, orVisit our website at www.visitspringlake.com

For Further Information about The Seward Johnson Atelier, contact:Jenee Castellanos at jcastellanos@sewardjohnsonatelier.org, or 310-264-2400, orVisit our website at www.sewardjohnsonatelier.org