Sculptures by James Surls and Charmaine Locke Installed for Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational

James Surls stands with his sculpture In Circle while the site is prepared to receive the sculpture. Photo courtesy of the UW Art Museum.

James Surls, In Circle, on Prexy's Pasture. Photo courtesy of the UW Art Museum.

Last week, James Surls and Charmaine Locke delivered and installed their sculptures for Scultpure: A Wyoming Invitational. In Circle was place on Prexy's Pasture along the north walkway. The work is stainless steel and represents a new direction in Surls' visual vocabulary, appearing molecular or atom-like.

Charmaine Locke's Open Book on location at the Albany County Public Library. Photo courtesy of the UW Art Museum.

Locke's work Open Book was installed at the Albany County Public Library. Located along Grand Avenue, it occupies a visible space for both drivers-by and those on foot (or bike!). A life-scaled bronze work, it depicts the many roles that women universally have to play. The ribbons on her clothing convey the phrase "Why can't we find the path to peace when it is right in front of our eyes?", each in a different language, including English, Japanese, and Korean.

We would like to thank Susan Simpson, director of the Albany County Public Library, and Paul Heimer, director of the Albany County Public Library Foundation, for their interest, enthusiasm, and support of Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational.

Press Release for Charmaine Locke and James Surls.
For more information, visit the UW Art Museum webpage.

Play Time

Weston Heeren peaks out from Patrick Dougherty's sculpture on Prexy's Pasture. Photo courtesy of Skye Heeren.

Skye Heeren and her son Weston were on a bike ride on campus when they came upon Patrick Dougherty's sculpture created from saplings. Weston thought it was a great place to play "Marco Polo". Punctuated by doorways and skylights, Weston and Skye look forward to returning to the scultpure at night to lay on blankets in the scultpure and view the heavens. Inspired by Dougherty's work, Weston said he wants to be an artist when he grows up!

Thanks to Skye for sharing images and stories about Weston's and her experience with Patrick Dougherty's sculpture.

Charmaine Locke and James Surls sculptures arriving Wednesday

Charmaine Locke, Open Book, bronze, 1/5, 79 x 63 x 40 inches, lent by the Surls Locke Personal Collection. Photo courtesy of the artist.

On Wednesday, James Surls will deliver and install two more sculptures for Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational. Surl's new stainless steel sculpture will be placed on Prexy's Pasture. Charmaine Locke's Open Book, will be located at the Albany County Public Library and visible from Grand Ave.

Press Release for James Surls and Charmaine Locke.
For more information, visit the UW Art Museum website.

Dougherty's Sculpture on Prexy's Pasture Takes Shape

Top. Patrick Dougherty's sculpture takes form.
Bottom. The view from inside Dougherty's sculpture.
Photos courtesy of the UW Art Museum.

With the assistance of volunteers and museum interns, Patrick Dougherty continues to form and refine his site-specific installations on Prexy's Pasture. Four large forms are now apparent, each with doorways and interior spaces, and placed to create walkways. Work will continue through mid-week when the artist expects to complete the sculpture.

Art Talk: Patrick Dougherty
Wednesday, July 23, 7 pm
Albany County Public Library

Free and open to the public!

Co-sponsored by the Albany County Public Library and
the University of Wyoming Art Museum

Press Release on Patrick Dougherty.
For more information, visit the University of Wyoming Art Museum website.

Updated Installation Schedule

Several installation dates have changed so here is an update on the installation schedule!

Continuing through Wednesday, July 23
Patrick Dougherty on location in Prexy's Pasture

Wednesday, July 23
James Surls, a new work for Prexy's Pasture
Charmaine Locke, Open Book, Albany County Public Library

Monday, July 28
Carl Reed, Braced Ring with Outlyer, Prexy's Pasture

Wednesday, July 30
John Kearney, Alligator, City Annex
Robert Russin, First Steps, Undine Park

Monday - Tuesday, August 18 - 19
John Henry, River High, Laramie Recreation Center

Thursday, August 21
Stan Dolega, Veedauwoo Modernized, Optimist Park

For more information, visit www.uwyo.edu/artmuseum.

Patrick Dougherty Working on Prexy's Pasture

Patrick Dougherty working on his scultpure on Prexy's Pasture yesterday. Photo courtesy of the UW Art Museum

Patrick Dougherty, known for his woven sapling site-specific installations, will be working on Prexy's Pasture the next few weeks to create a work for Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational. Stacks of cut saplings under nearby trees are kept wet so the twigs stay pliable and ready for use. Post holes have been filled with structural saplings and shaping the sculpture is underway. Dougherty, along with a number of assistants and volunteers, will be on location every day for the next few weeks to create and complete the work.

Press release for Patrick Dougherty.
For more information, visit www.uwyo.edu/artmuseum.

Patrick Dougherty on Site to Create Sculpture from Saplings

Chief Preparator Sterling Smith, Artist Patrick Dougherty, and Museum Intern Jedediah Cracco deliver a truckload of saplings to Prexy's Pasture. Photo courtesy of the UW Art Museum

Patrick Dougherty arrived in Laramie earlier this week to begin work on his installation on Prexy's Pasture for Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational. Two days of gathering material on local ranches--the Bath Ranch southeast of Laramie and Deerlodge Ranch west of Laramie--will let the artist focus on the preliminary construction of the sculpture tomorrow. The artist has had a lot of help, with employees from the City of Laramie's Park & Recreation Department lending a hand yesterday and University of Wyoming Physical Plant employees working today. He will be working at the Prexy's Pasture site for the next two weeks.

Dougherty has been working in saplings for more than 25 years. His most recent installations in the Garden of the Arts in Chateaubourg, France (May 2008) and Sculpture in the Parklands, in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, Ireland (June 2008). He is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions. He lives in North Carolina.

To know more about Patrick Dougherty, visit www.stickwork.net.
For more information about Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational, visit www.uwyo.edu/artmuseum.

Sculpture from the University of Wyoming Art Museum Collection Scheduled for Installation Off-Campus

Robert Russin's First Steps and John Kearney's Alligator have been scheduled to be installed at Undine Park and the Carnegie Building at 4th & Grand respectively.

Site preparation for these sculptures has started. First Steps, a bronze work depicting a mother and child, will be placed in Undine Park, a response to the enthusiastic request from the Friends of Undine Park to include their park in Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational. Russin is Professor Emeritus from the University of Wyoming. He died in December 2007.

Alligator will be placed on the lawn of the City Hall Annex, also known as the Carnegie Building, at 4th and Grand. Kearney is a Chicago sculptor known for his fanciful animals constructed from welded car bumpers.

Installation of these works is scheduled for Wednesday, July 30.

"It goes under" along the Laramie Greenbelt

Steven Siegel's It goes under along the Laramie Greenbelt. Photo courtesy of the UW Art Museum.

Steven Siegel has completed his site specific installation for Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational. Titled It goes under, the more than 150-ft long work meanders through a the trees, disappears into the ground, and re-emerges to crawl up the opposite bank along the walking/bike path. Constructed of wood, plastic, screening, wire, nails, and red mulch, It goes under furthers Seigel's exploration of construction methods with found, recycled materials. New to his creative process in this work are combination of red mulch and screening.