A new crop of sculptures for the “101 Sculpture Trail” arrived for installation in May, bringing the communities original art pieces from sculptors mainly based in Northern California. The sculptures will remain on display through May of next year. Nineteen new sculptures were installed in Cloverdale and Geyserville, said Joyce Mann, manager of the Sculpture Trail.
“Each one of the sculptures is original, from the whimsical, to those that make us ponder,” Mann said. “Each piece started with idea, an image, a thought or through exploration. A pipe or a found object might trigger an idea for a sculpture. The material is important to the idea. Engineering also comes into play as a public art sculpture must be safe for the viewing public.”
She said that her hope with the trail is for it to educate and enrich the lives of Cloverdale and Geyserville residents and visitors, to promote tourism and to give sculptors and their works additional exposure to the general public.
“Public art can enhance and complement our environment, and offer social and educational opportunities. Public art is an open-air museum; what better way to experience and interpret art than in public-accessible places; streets, plazas and parks? Moreover, the exhibiting sculptors bring a broad array of talent and experience to Cloverdale and Geyserville,” she said.
Mann and Victoria Heiges, manager of the Geyserville section of the sculpture trail, set out a call for contributing sculptors in January. There were 26 entries this year, Mann said.
There is a selection committee that reviews all entries and makes a decision based on the quality and professionalism of each sculpture, use of materials and safety factors. The committee also decides which community (Geyserville or Cloverdale) the selected sculpture would be shown at its best, based on size and whether the sculpture is freestanding or must be staked, Mann said.
Heiges said that there is one sculpture set for Geyserville that she’s particularly excited about: “Pavillion,” by Loren Madsen.
“He is really a big name artist,” Heiges said. “He is considered the founder of data art (a new category of art). It’s wonderful to have an artist of that stature in our collection.”
“The community is starting to really embrace the Sculpture Trail. At the beginning, there were some skeptics. My personal objective is to get people talking to each other and about art. I like to demystify art,” she added.
The 101 Sculpture Trail is a year-round exhibit with sculptures changing every 12 months. At the end of the 12 months, the sculptures, if not sold, will be picked up by the sculptors and the pieces will return to the artist’s studio. The Sculpture Trail receives a 5 percent commission on sculptures sold as a result of the Sculpture Trail to provide funds to expand the trail.
The Sculpture Trail is a joint venture between the Cloverdale Arts Alliance and the Geyserville Community Foundation, with support from the Geyserville Chamber
