Sculpture Tucson’s annual Festival & Sale is right around the corner and will kick off with a preview evening on Friday, March 27, followed by two days featuring hundreds of sculptures from around the country.
This Festival, the largest of its kind in Arizona, came into being after Sculpture Tucson’s founders – Jeff Timan, Barbara Grygutis, and Steve Kimble – traveled to the well-established annual Sculpture in the Park in Loveland, Colorado, on a fact-finding mission. The trio wanted to see if a similar program could be developed in Tucson to further the mission of Sculpture Tucson. Organizers in Loveland graciously shared their tested and successful organizing process, from calls to artists, juror selection, how to handle sales, advertising, and the logistics of moving a ton of artwork into an outdoor space for a short time.
Modifying the Loveland model to fit Tucson, the first Sculpture Festival Show & Sale in March 2018 took place in the hay barn at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park on River Road. Organized with the skill and talents of Grygutis’ studio staffer, Katie McCann; volunteers Denise Grusin and Robin Kessler; and advisory board members, artists Moira Geoffrion, Steve Derks, and Terrol Dew Johnson, a call for interest went out to sculptors nationwide. Juror Elaine King, an East Coast arts critic, selected artists and works from the responders. Artists were required to be present with their work for the duration of the show. Not knowing what the community response would be, they were delighted when more than 5,000 visitors came to the two-day free event. Artworks were sold, with 30% of sales supporting Sculpture Tucson programs. Even better, word spread among sculptors and collectors about this new and fantastic
opportunity in Tucson.
The modified model worked well, and the Tucson event proved to be diverse, with large and small works of high quality. Jurors, hired for their expertise and recognized in their field, would change from year to year, but a keystone principle was established: all work shown through Sculpture Tucson would be curated by professionals. Some past Festival jurors include Kim Boganey from the Scottsdale Public Art program and Moira Geoffrion, former head of the UA Art Department. Recruiting new artists became a priority, and returning artists would be asked to present new works not seen in previous festivals. In its second year, the 2019 Sculpture Festival featured 60 artists. That spring, the festival moved onto Brandi Fenton Memorial Park proper, on a large grassy plot with room for open tents for shade and convenient parking.
Last year’s Festival drew more than 8,000 people, and Sculpture Tucson organizers look forward to even more people turning out to see the diverse work of 60+ sculptors. This year’s show was curated by Kim Boganey, director of Scottsdale Arts. The daylong event on Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29, takes place on the west side of the
Brandi Fenton Memorial Park at River Road and Alvernon Way. The public is invited to wander around the beautiful park and enjoy the show. There is a charge for the preview night, which also features food, music, and drink, and further information is available by visiting the Sculpture Tucson website at www.sculpturetucson.org or contacting Sculpture Tucson at 520-334-5871. After the two preview dates in late March, the show continues for free, Tuesdays through Saturdays, until May 26th.
Last year’s Festival drew more than 8,000 people, and Sculpture Tucson organizers look forward to
even more people turning out to see the diverse work of 60+ sculptors.