When the 101 freeway was finally built to go around the town of Cloverdale instead of through it, a window of opportunity opened to revamp the downtown core.
The 2003 construction site along Cloverdale became a public art project, compliments of three innovative Cloverdale citizens. Artist Ron Siegemund, construction designer Albert Walker and publicist Joyce Mann used various construction materials to create waves of visual interest along the construction k-rails to bring activity and attention to downtown Cloverdale during the renovation.
It worked, and the public art project took root with its next phase manifesting as a sculpture exhibit that took place in the new pedestrian-friendly Cloverdale Plaza. From there, the sculpture exhibit morphed again, spreading its wings and taking to the streets.
“The problem with having the art just in the plaza was that a lot of people had to park and get out of their cars to see it,” said Mann, who is recognized as the driving force behind the installation of art in Cloverdale.
What came to be known as the Cloverdale Annual Sculpture Exhibit was sponsored by the City of Cloverdale from 2003 through 2008, and the Cloverdale Arts Alliance hosted the opening exhibit reception in the plaza. In 2009 the Cloverdale Arts Alliance took over the management of the exhibit with the city continuing to sponsor the event.
This year the Cloverdale Annual Sculpture Exhibit will evolve and grow once again, becoming a part of the Sculpture Trail, an exhibit that will include sculptures not only in Cloverdale but also in the neighboring town of Geyserville. Partnering the Cloverdale Arts Alliance with the Geyserville Chamber of Commerce on the sculpture exhibit project was the brainchild of Mann.
“If it wasn’t for her (Joyce Mann), there wouldn’t be a Sculpture Trail,” said Janet Howell, owner of Howell Fine Art Gallery in Healdsburg and part of the sculpture selection committee.
The Sculpture Trail is a year-round exhibit that features a revolving show with 15 sculptures in Cloverdale and nine in Geyserville. Most of the artwork will change every nine months, but a few favorite sculpture pieces will remain with every show.
“Shadows of Eternity” by Boback Emad is one of them. Purchased by the Voigt Family Sculpture Foundation, it is now on loan to the City of Cloverdale. Placed in front of the fairgrounds, where the historic and popular Cloverdale Citrus Fair is held every year, the location serves as sort of a gateway to downtown Cloverdale. A thyme garden sets the stage for a large sculpture that is actually based on the concept of a sundial. Scientific and spiritual, the piece adds a Zen-like quality to the corner of the street that is framed with mountains in the background. Lavender plants and other herbs and flowering trees compliment the piece that, in the morning hours, sparkles in a 3-D fashion with the sun reflecting on etched steel.
As for the shadows the sculpture evokes, that is open to interpretation, and those shadows change throughout the course of the day depending on the hour.
“People can see what they want,” said Emad. The piece that was built with a “notion of time” required very specific placement, with level ground and the ring pointing north, he noted. Emad’s “Shadows of Eternity” found its home in Cloverdale in 2009 and was named “Best of Show” that year.
Most of the other sculptures in Cloverdale are located downtown on the streets where those passing by can get a really close look. “It’s a good thing for Cloverdale,” said resident Frank Rose, a general contractor who helped construct quite a few buildings in town. The sculpture, “All Stars,” by Joe Bologna fits in well, standing in front of the brick-faced building that Rose built.
Although Cloverdale entered the realm of public art before Geyserville, the smaller neighbor has a solid three years under its belt and plenty of passion for the collaborative project that will connect the towns on a level beyond the physical plane.
Geyserville is unique in that it has room for very large artwork, some of which can be seen driving on Highway 101. “Run Home” by Max Heiges is one of them. A whimsical pink runner with a house-shaped head sprints figuratively across a strip of field that divides Asti Road and 101. Ironically, many bikers, runners and pedestrians use Asti Road that leads from Geyserville to downtown Cloverdale, providing an optimal route for viewing some of the art.
Deciding which pieces should be part of the Sculpture Trail is a task that Mann likes to see in the hands of artists. “We chose pieces based on the quality of the work and the size,” said Howell, who also considers how pieces will fit into the environment in which it is placed.
Balance is also an important factor. “We don’t want all the same size pieces on one side of the street,” explained Mann. Safety is yet another concern when it comes to sculpture placement, and then there’s the necessity for the sidewalk pieces to be freestanding – but for Mann and others, it’s worth the trouble.
“I’m hoping that people will walk away with a better appreciation for art, that it will get people talking about it, because then art comes alive,” Mann said.
For more information about the Sculpture Trail, visit www.cloverdaleartsalliance.org or call 707-894-4410.
