Sync

Imagine a city without public art.

New York without the Statue of Liberty. Chicago’s Millennium Park without the Cloud Gate. Eureka Springs without the giant Jesus.

Public art quickly defines a city and has the potential to become iconic. Central Arkansas may not yet have a defining piece of public art, but the area has small- to medium-sized pieces scattered throughout that could occupy art seekers for weeks.

In a recent speech at the Clinton School of Public Service, John Kincade of the National Sculptors’ Guild spoke on the artwork of Little Rock and said the most prominent sculpture in the city might be the Knife Edge piece at the corner of Louisiana Street and Capitol Avenue in downtown Little Rock.

It was purchased for $185,000 in 1978 and was recently appraised at between $3 million and $5 million, according to Kincade.

But how does public art go from idea to installation?

Artists are either commissioned to create works for businesses or cities, or they submit proposals to those requesting work for public gardens, buildings and cityscapes.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock professor Michael Warrick has been practicing sculpture for 30 years and has had his work installed everywhere from Little Rock to China.

He serves as a local consultant for new artists and often volunteers his time and expertise when new works are installed. He is sometimes called when works are vandalized and need repairing.

For this story, we asked him to accompany us on a walking tour of prominent public art sites in Little Rock and give an artist’s perspective on what’s been installed thus far in the River Market and Bernice Garden.

Then, we posted photos of these sculptures on our Facebook page and asked the public to comment on those same works of art.

UALR professor Michael Warrick + Enlarge

THE CRITICS

The expert:

Who: UALR professor Michael Warrick

Credentials: Thirty years practicing sculpture, also serves as consultant to artists and public art committees.

The public:

Who: People on Facebook and Twitter

Credentials: The public has eyes to see art and the ability to type into a comment field. The public also knows what it likes.

Crane Unfolding by Kevin Box [ River Market ] + Enlarge

THE ART

Crane Unfolding

by Kevin Box

[ River Market ]

Warrick:

It’s a nice composition. It’s interesting. It’s simple. It’s more narrative. It’s fabricated bronze and the rest is probably powder-coated steel, which is a technique used to paint. The paint actually bonds with the metal instead of just coats it. He uses origami a lot in his work. The latest thing he’s done is a life-sized bison in origami style. It’s pretty interesting.

Public:

“I love the geometric lines.” — Matt

Spring Flower by Mac Horneker [ Bernice Garden ] + Enlarge

Spring Flower

by Mac Horneker

[ Bernice Garden ]

Warrick:

This is a small-to-medium-sized piece for Mac. I just think it references flowers in the spring, the curves and the color. He’s an abstractionist from the early ’60s, worked with a lot of other artists in that area. His whole vocabulary of work is primarily abstract, using line and mass as compositional elements. It’s very bold and interesting composition-wise. It’s very appealing to a lot of different people because of the simplicity and also the movement.”

Public:

“It’s like abstract macaroni and cheese art!” — Chaka

“All it needs is a massive bottle of ketchup beside it.” — Michael

Title unknown by Kerry Hartman [ Bernice Garden ] + Enlarge

Title unknown

by Kerry Hartman

[ Bernice Garden ]

Warrick:

It’s made of Colorado marble. I think it’s interesting. It’s organic. It’s reminiscent of both things that are in the ocean, like shells, cephalopods, or any number of small creatures. It reminds you of fossils. Or it looks like an embryo. It has a lot of different references but not a specific thing. The presentation [on the wooden slats] is simple and doesn’t take away from it. It’s the biggest piece [Hartman’s] ever made. He worked on it over the summer, and he had never carved marble before. He had on a smaller scale but nothing like this. It’s a pretty ambitious work.

Public:

“I like this one.” — Beth

“Ram?” — Alan

Forever A Rose by Denny Haskew [ River Market ] + Enlarge

Forever A Rose

by Denny Haskew

[ River Market ]

Warrick:

This is one of my favorite pieces. [Haskew] is an amazing figurative artist. Very quiet and exceptionally talented. You might use this as the backdrop for a wedding scene. I like the shape of the garden, and the notion that the rose is a symbol for love and passion. What’s intriguing about the piece is that it can be interpreted in many ways. Both in the garden and just the posture of the body and the sensibility of the way the hands are, the way the rose is. It’s a dynamic piece, but it’s quiet at the same time. I think it’s very strong.

Public:

“How sad ... I do like the rose. All the art is beautiful downtown.” — Arkansas Banshees