When the annual Sculpture Celebration began in Caldwell County in 1985, few could have imagined the impressive collection we enjoy today.

When Dr. Henry Michaux, a Lenoir native and sculpture professor at the University of South Carolina, envisioned the Sculpture Celebration he hoped to encourage citizens to enjoy an under-utilized park as much as to celebrate sculpture. Collaboration with Parks and Recreation Director Sam Sturgis and Arts Council Executive Director Liza Plaster made the Sculpture Celebration a reality and Caldwell County was on its way toward owning a most remarkable and varied sculpture collection.

Held annually on the first Saturday after Labor Day in T. H. Broyhill Walking Park, this event draws sculptors from across the southeastern United States and is recognized nationally.

The first three pieces of the collection were purchased in 1986. One, the metal “Pig” weather-vane, sits atop the Caldwell Arts Council in Lenoir. Over the years, privately funded acquisitions have been purchased from artists at the celebration. Three pieces are commissioned works.

The Celebration and the permanent collection have been featured in North Carolina’s Our State magazine, on a UNC-TV special, noted in the Orlando Sentinel, and dubbed by the Charlotte Observer as the place “where sculpture reigns.”

A study by Appalachian State University in 2006 confirmed that Caldwell County has the largest collection of permanent public outdoor sculpture of any community of its population in the United States.

In a recent study by the Chamber of Commerce, the collection was identified as a “phenomenal collection of assets” that sets Caldwell County apart from other counties in the region and is a reflection of our history of craftsmanship.

More than half the collection is outdoors for easy access to locals and visitors, and many of the indoor pieces are also accessible, though primarily on weekdays.

*Internationally recognized sculptor Thomas Sayre

On the cover: West Wind Sentinel, Mike RoigInside panel, clockwise from top left: Leaving Anger, Heather Alexander; Passages, Marvin Tadlock, and Totemic IV, Glenn Phifer.

SculptureC A L D W E L L A R T S C O U N C I L

“[This] is small town North Carolina and yet

here is a collection of 80 works which have

been lovingly assembled for a sustained

period of time.”*

Walking Tour of SculpTureS in The DoWnToWn lenoir area

* Located on public school grounds, open to the public weekdays after 4:30 p.m. or on weekends only. Please do not visit the schools during the school day.** Indoor Piece

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1pig by Glen GardnerCaldwell Arts Council

Metal; one of the first pieces acquired, it now sits atop the caldwell arts council

3finiSh lineby Jim WeitzelCaldwell Arts Council

tile; idea caMe froM folding a photo of a checkered flag

5inTerrupTeD columnby Marvin Tadlockcorner of Mulberry & Pennton

Metal; tilted cubes interrupt the rectangles

7DaeDaluSby Scott StraderCaldwell Family Care Center

aluMinuM; could this piece be related to the greek Myth of icarus?

10amarylliS archiTecTuraliSby Vega Metals LHS Apartments (old Lenoir High School)

steel; coMposed by three artists coMbining ideas and talents

11unTiTleDby Dan HowachynLenoir Police Department

abstract piece Made froM Marble and steel

13acroSS The grainby Thomas SayreHarper Avenue

this earthcast wheel carries the story of our history and our future.

15reD coronaby Steve BickleyMain Street

painted steel; in astronoMy, a corona is the gaseous envelope around the sun and other stars

17TaliSmanby Scott StraderJ.E. Broyhill Park

aluMinuM; a talisMan is thought to have Magic powers or bring luck

19moSaic TripTychby Debbie Van OrdstradFamily Resource Center

tile; “sculpted” in a special project with coMMunity citizens’ help

4keeperS of The WilD**

by Jane TuckerCaldwell Senior Center

realistic bronze piece

6in oTher WorDS fly

by Gretchen LothropCaldwell Memorial Hospital

“fly” used to Mean cool, a piece “cool enough to fly”

8 & 9Special Delivery*

meDium-SizeD BirD*by Stefan Bonitz

Davenport School

artist works alMost solely with found objects. MediuM-sized bird keeps watch over the playground

2The melTDoWn

by Mark PotterCaldwell Arts Council

created at the end of the cold war, depicts the soviet union’s haMMer and

sickle draped in the aMerican flag

14While i cloSe my eyeS

by Kevin EichnerWest Avenue

sculptor gives forM and MoveMent to rigid i-beaMs

12hurricane BuBBa

by Marvin TadlockHarper Avenue

huMour abounds in this steel piece, hold on little bird!

16ponDering SpoT

by Dean CurfmanJ.E. Broyhill Park

don’t Miss this one! when you find it, have a seat and enjoy

18The laST of The Spokane**

by Griffin ChilesLenoir Post Office

one of a series of native aMerican portraits by this artist showing the nobility and inner

strength of a beleaguered people

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Davenport School

the sculptures that are highlighted in this walking map are simply a handful of those that make up our sculpture collection. to view and locate all of the pieces, you may visit www.caldwellarts.com/sculpture

this map was funded in part by a grant from the unifour foundation, inc.

A Component Fund of the North Carolina Community Foundation.

while downtown, you will also notice sculptures that are part of tucker’s gallery. tucker’s gallery is a showcase of outdoor works created by area sculptors and displayed in downtown lenoir. each time you visit you may see something “old” replaced with something new. Many pieces in tucker’s gallery are purchased by visitors to the gallery. this outdoor gallery is managed by local artists and is not officially affiliated with the caldwell arts council. however, you may call the caldwell arts council for more information at 828-754-2486.

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Outdoor Sculpture

Indoor Sculpture

Tour distance: 2.9 Miles | Approx. 1.5 Hours

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