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Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park

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The Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park is an integral feature of the Newport Beach Civic Center. Civic Center Park, which turned nearly half a million square feet of undeveloped land into a new public park, was designed by renowned landscape architectural firm Peter Walker and Partners (PWP).  The City Arts Commission determined that a rotating exhibition, in which pieces are loaned for a 2-year period, was an optimal approach to bring sculpture to the City in a cost-efficient manner. In 2013, the Newport Beach City Council authorized the City Arts Commission to implement an inaugural rotational sculpture exhibit in Civic Center Park.

Admission is free and the exhibition continues to be enjoyed by residents and guests of all ages and sensibilities. The exhibition has become a “museum without walls” that offers the temporary display of public art in a unique, naturalistic setting. Moreover, the City is able to exhibit a well-balanced representation of public art, with artistic merit, durability, practicality, and site responsiveness as criteria in the selection of work. The rotational nature of the exhibit ensures that residents and guests are exposed to a variety of work. 

Selected sculptures will be on loan to the City of Newport Beach for two years. Sculptors, whose artworks are chosen for installation in Civic Center Park, will receive a small honorarium. The City is responsible for installing the art, while artists are responsible for the maintenance and repair of their work. The outdoor exhibition attracts an audience of all ages, including schoolchildren, the local community, and visitors from Southern California and beyond. 

PHASE VIII SCULPTURES: 

The Phase VIII sculptures are as follows:

  • Tulip the Rockfish by Peter Hazel, Reno, CA
  • Confluence #102 by Catherine Daley, Windsor, CA
  • One Another by Maxwell Carraher, Sunland, CA
  • Efram by James Burnes, Santa Fe, NM
  • The Memory of Sailing by Zan Knecht, Grand Rapids, MI
  • Newport Glider by Ilya Idelchick, Solana Beach, CA
  • Inchoate by Luke Achterberg, Onalaska, WI
  • Kissing Bench by Matt Cartwright, Portland, OR
  • The Goddess Sol by Jackie Braitman, Takoma Park, MD
  • Metal Tree by Pontus Willfors, Inglewood, CA
  • Tulip the Rockfish_ver01
    Tulip the Rockfish by Peter Hazel

    Rockfishes get their name from their habit of hiding among rocks at the bottom of the ocean; but Tulip, rendered in vivid color by Peter Hazel, seems safe and content here in the open air of the park.

  • Confluence #102_ver02
    Confluence #102 by Catherine Daley

    From a sturdy base, the tubes of Catherine Daley's Confluence #102 ascend in parallel waves, lifting spirits and harnessing the sunlight in different ways throughout the day.

  • One Another_ver02
    One Another by Maxwell Carraher

    While it looks like the upper figure is pulling up the lower one, it's actually the figure underneath who is supporting the weight of Maxwell Carraher's bronze sculpture - a simple yet powerful evocation of the strength we can share by reaching out and connecting.

  • Efram
    Efram by James Burnes

    The diverse flora and fauna of the Civic Center Park have a new visitor, a grazing buffalo named Efram - assembled by James Burnes in steel and wood with an eclectic, cubist flavor.

  • Memory of Sailing, The
    The Memory of Sailing by Zan Knecht

    Negative space never saw a better match than Zan Knecht's evocation of a full, tall set of sails against our splendid Pacific Ocean view.

  • Newport Glider
    Newport Glider by Ilya Idelchick

    When was the last time you imagined you were flying? The wild and whimsical Glider, created by Ilya Idelchick, is here on a mission to spread the spirit of joyful play in the outdoors.

  • Inchoate
    Inchoate by Luke Achterberg

    The word "Inchoate" means not yet formed, rudimentary; an appropriate description of this work that surges with raw energy. What do you think it will become?

  • Kissing Bench
    The Kissing Bench by Matt Cartwright

    Bold in color and shape, Matt Cartwright's Kissing Bench is more than an ice-breaker, it's a loud declaration that it's always a good time for a gesture of love.

  • Goddess Sol, The
    The Goddess Sol by Jackie Braitman

    You don't imagine cut and welded steel achieving such curvaceous grace, but that's what Jackie Braitman has achieved in creating a figure which is both fiery and unmistakably feminine.

  • Metal Tree 3
    Metal Tree by Pontus Willfors

Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park - Phase VII

Phase VII of the Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park. The ten sculptures were selected from submissions received by a national call for entries based on their artistic merit, durability, practicality and site appropriateness. Arts Orange County provided professional services for the coordination of the artist selection and installation of the sculptures. They are scheduled to be on display in Civic Center Park for two years. 

INSTALLED JUNE 2022

PHASE VII SCULPTURES: 

The Phase VII sculptures are as follows (left to right):

  • Eve by Joe Forrest Sackett, Albuquerque, NM
  • Pathway Parabola by Greg Mueller, Lutsen Mountain, MN
  • Where Have All The Birds Gone? by Marguerite Elliot, Fairfax, CA
  • Pluma Sculptura, a.k.a. "The Feather" by Kirk Seese, Lutherville-Timonium, MD
  • To The Moon by Alex G, Vista, CA
  • Prey by Mr. & Mrs. Ferguson, Alameda, CA
  • Archeology of the Everyday by Tyler Burton, Palm Springs, CA
  • A Novel Idea by Craig Gray, Key West, FL
  • David by Miggy Buck, New York, NY
  • Cross-Section by Tim DeShong, Caratunk, ME

  • Sculpture Exhibition Phase 7 - Where Have All the Birds Gone - Marguerite Elliot
    Where Have All the Birds Gone? by Marguerite Elliot

    Crows warn us of danger - the 3 crows Marguerite Elliot placed on top of this 15-foot tower call out about the 3 billion birds we've lost in the past 50 years due to manmade causes...and they also cry out for hope.

  • Sculpture Exhibition Phase 7 - To the Moon - Alex G
    To the Moon by Alex G

    With a simplicity that evokes a feeling of sacred power, Alex G has rendered in steel one of the captivating shapes of the ever-changing moon; so that at any hour of the day, we can enjoy the mystery and wonder inspired by gazing up towards the night sky.

  • Sculpture Exhibition Phase 7 - The Archeology of the Every Day - Tyler Burton
    The Archeology of the Every Day by Tyler Burton

    This striking square tower, built by Palm Springs artist Tyler Burton from concrete, house paint, and plastic recovered from beaches, is one of what she calls 'Fossils of the Future'; a reminder of the lasting impact of what we leave behind in the Earth.

  • Sculpture Exhibition Phase 7 - Prey -Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson
    Prey by Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson

    This awe-inspiring eagle has flown to us all the way from Burning Man on wings made of real coins, giving us the chance to gaze into the powerful eyes of a predator about to strike.

  • Sculpture Exhibition Phase 7 - Pluma Sculptura by Kirk Seese
    Pluma Sculptura a.k.a. "The Feather" by Kirk Seese

    Simplicity of design and color can have a powerful impact, as we can see in this delightful creation by Maryland artist Kirk Seese, which looks ready to catch the breeze and take off into the sky.

  • Sculpture Exhibition Phase 7 - Pathway Parabola by Greg Mueller
    Pathway Parabola by Greg Mueller

    The form and colors of this archway, designed by Greg Mueller, are inspired by the roots and trunks of trees; perhaps some of the rich, reddish-brown trees found in the forests of his home in Minnesota.

  • Sculpture Exhibition Phase 7 - Eve by Joe Forrest Sackett
    Eve by Joe Forrest Sackett

    You don't think of steel as something

  • Sculpture Exhibition Phase 7 - David - Miggy Buck
    David by Miggy Buck

    These evocative concrete feet mimic the pose of the iconic David sculpture by Michelangelo; but the artist Miggy Buck brings them literally down off the pedestal to stand on the ground with us.

  • Sculpture Exhibition Phase 7 - Cross-Section by Tim DeShong
    Cross Section by Tim DeShong

    Tim DeShong wondered what it might look like to take a slice out of a wave, which makes this beguiling marble curl the perfect guest for our park on the edge of the Pacific Ocean.

  • A Novel Idea by Craig Gray - Photo Credit Ed Olen
    A Novel Idea by Craig Gray

    The pleasures of a good book on a sunny day are celebrated in this inviting granite bench by Florida artist Craig Gray; and with our beautiful Central Library right down the hill, what's stopping us?

HISTORY OF THE SCULPTURE IN THE CIVIC CENTER PARK EXHIBITION

Newport Beach Civic Center Park - 100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach

In August 2013, the Newport Beach City Council authorized the City Arts Commission and City staff to implement a temporary sculpture exhibit in Civic Center Park. The City Council approved the installation of ten sculptures in Phase I of the project and additional ten sculptures in Phase II. The sculptures installed in year one were on display for two years and were removed and returned to the artists in 2016. Those installed in year two, or Phase 2, will be removed in September 2017. The ten sculptures selected for installation in September 2015 are shown in this Phase 2 Presentation.

 A grand opening celebration on September 12, 2015 marked the installation of nine new sculptures in Phase II of the Sculpture in the Civic Center Park Exhibition with the tenth sculpture, "Sunflower," to be installed in January 2016. The community was invited to view the sculptures, meet the artists and enjoy music and refreshments at the Civic Center.  Docent led tours of the Sculpture in Civic Center Park Exhibition were conducted by members of the Newport Beach Art Foundation.

MOBILE APP SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF THE PARK

For a self-guided walking tour of the Sculpture in the Civic Center Park Exhibition, download the "MyNB" app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.  Search for "MyNB."  If you already have the "MyNB" app on your mobile device, update it to include the latest additions to the Sculpture Exhibition.

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