By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
For the fourth year, a section Woodlands Park in Perrysburg has turned into a sculpture garden.
Early in September, 13 sculptures Midwest artists were installed in the park at the corner of East Boundary Street and East Indiana Avenue.
Robin Ballmer, of Main-ART-ery, who is the founder of the project, said all 13 are new. Last year’s walk mixed a few new pieces with pieces left in place from 2022.
On Saturday, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. a celebration of the Sculpture Walk will be held at the park. Ballmer will offer a guided tour with commentary at 12:30 p.m.
Click to view the online program for the exhibit.
The winners chosen by outside jurors will be honored.
The winning sculptures are:
- Best of Show: “Tree Hugger” by Andy Sacksteder ($2,000 prize)
- First Place: “Abiding Observer” by George Farbotko ($1,000 prize)
- Second Place: “Quantum Flock” by Michael Young ($750 prize)
- Honorable Mention: “Balance 1” by Mike Sohikian.
- Honorable Mention: “Odyssey” by Bryant and Sharon Tubbs
- Mayor’s Choice Award: “Tree Hugger
Aside from the Mayor’s Award selected by Perrysburg Mayor Tom Mackin, the awards were selected by a trio of judges that mixes practitioners with an academic. Judges were: Emanuel Enriquez, a sculptor from Bowling Green; Richard Maurer, a sculptor and metalsmith and owner Hammer Head Studio; and Peter Barr, professor emeritus of art history at Adrian College.
Ballmer selected the 13 works to be displayed.
The walk also includes “Man in the City,” John Sauvé located on Sandusky Street.
Some of the sculptures are playfully abstract. Others whimsical. But others carry serious messages.
Sacksteder’s “Tree Hugger” explores the bond between mother, depicted here in the tree pose, and her daughter who clings to her leg. According to the artist’s statement, it shows a young woman, “smart, strong, and accomplished” who copes with all the challenges of contemporary life. Her daughter is “looking for her attention, and looking up to her.”
A complementary piece, Carrie Fisher’s “Mum Du Silver,” honors mothers who have lost children through violence. It echoes the heart shape used in her “King of Hearts” sculpture that was in the previous sculpture walk.
More whimsical is George Farbotko’s wood carving “Abiding Observer.” The ‘observer’ is a character christened “Farwink” by the artist, an elf-like human form with a bird’s head. This creature may have escaped from some alien mythology Farwink seems intent on observing of what is happening on earth.
“Quantum Flock” reflects artist Michael Young’s interest in blending quantum physic concepts with art. The shimmering flock of aluminum birds heading in two different directions references a drawing by M.C. Escher.
Sohikian’s “Balance 1” is a whimsical abstraction of a seal balancing a ball on its snout. As is the sculptor’s practice he reuses metal to create his work.
That’s also the case in his “Madame Butterfly Industrial.”
A retired ironworker, Sohikian writes: “My art is simply translating a thought, a sound, a word, or phrase into a visual image.”
Sohikian from Genoa has been involved in the Sculpture Walk since the beginning, both displaying work and assisting Ballmer with the installation.
The presence of a number of returning artists adds a sense of continuity, though not sameness, to the walks. Each returning artist brings contrasting visions to their previous work,
Jim Havens, “Red Planet” made of stainless steel, and Robert Garcia, “Burning Bush, made of mild steel and acrylic finish, have displayed previously. Garcia currently has a piece on display at the Toledo Museum of Art.
Ray Katz who won second place in the 2022 walk is represented this year by “Red/Green Construction.”
Pamela Reithmeier whose large flower representations have been favorites — she won people’s choice in the inaugural walk — adds faces to her blossoms in “Hens & Chicks.”
The second honorable mention winner, “Odyssey” may also be familiar to local art lovers. The corten and stainless steel abstraction of a human figure is a collaborative work of Bryant and Sharon Tubbs, of Michigan. Tubbs won best of show at the 2022 Black Swamp Arts Festival, and has displayed in each festival since then.
Another familiar name in the sculpture walk line up is Gail Christofferson, of Animal House Glass. She has created a number of public art projects in the area.
For “Fire Blade,” a large circle made of glass and steel, she collaborated with Debra Buchanan who assisted with realizing Christofferson’s design, and Craig Hamilton who did the fabrication.
Buchanan has won top honors at the NowOH exhibit at BGSU and Bowing Green’s Art Walk.
Ballmer said she was initially leery about the fragility of the glass work, but was impressed by the solidity of the work.
The sculptures are on view throughout the year. Ballmer hopes to continue with a new sculpture walk next summer.
