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Loveland might just be the biggest little art enclave in the country. Consider: It’s home to four free public sculpture parks containing over $12.5 million in art, dozens of galleries, and some of the biggest and best bronze and steel foundries in the country. But if you want to see this city’s star sculptures in a single weekend, head to Loveland from August 9 to 11 for the country’s largest outdoor juried art show, Sculpture in the Park. During this annual event, the Benson Sculpture Garden, which typically boasts 178 sculptures, adds about 1,800 more to its ranks, thanks to the skilled hands of 155 award-winning artists.
The show’s popularity has ballooned since its debut in 1984. The brainchild of local sculptor George Walbye and four of his peers, Sculpture in the Park featured 50 local artists its first year and attracted 2,000 attendees who purchased $50,000 worth of art. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the show typically brings in more than $1 million in art sales.
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“Our patrons live for this,” says Amy Huggins, business manager for the Loveland High Plains Arts Council, which presents the show. “I have people call from the East Coast and they’ll say, ‘Amy, is so-and-so going to be in the show this year?’ They want to know before they purchase their flights, hotels and tickets to the show.”
Though there are artists who have participated for years, there are always opportunities to find new favorites or reconnect with familiar faces. This year, 18 new artists will have artwork on display. Whether you’ve attended this show since the ’80s or the only sculpture you’ve seen is the Statue of Liberty, here are five artists you need to track down at this weekend’s festivities.
Amanda Markel
Given that Amanda Markel is from Montana, it’s no surprise that her bronze works celebrate wildlife and nature. Her first large-scale sculpture, “Monument Mountain Heart,” depicts a wolf mid-stride. Look closely, and you’ll notice its backbone is actually a mountain ridge with a rising moon. This piece was so popular last year that the Loveland High Plains Art Council commissioned Markel to create two more wolves for this year’s show.
LaQuincey Reed
A figurative sculptor from Oklahoma, LaQuincey Reed is known for portraying historic Black cowboys in his art. However, it’s his depiction of the Black “horse kids”—children who participate in rodeos and other equine events—from his hometown of Oklahoma City that Forbes called, “utterly groundbreaking.” Be on the lookout for little bronze cowboys hanging off the backs of sheep in the Benson Sculpture Garden.
Lorri Acott
Loveland artist Lorri Acott’s impressionistic sculptures are a favorite among collectors because of the emotions they invoke. Her figurative pieces often lack facial details, allowing the viewer to imagine themselves in her scenes that explore themes of healing, relationships, and introspection. Dog owners might find themselves moved by her public Broomfield sculpture “Who Rescued Who,” where a human bends down to be nose-to-nose with a canine companion. Most recently, one of Acott’s antlered figures from her piece “Awakening” appeared on an episode of The Morning Show with Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon on Apple TV+.
Adam Schultz
Originally from Detroit, Adam Schultz now calls Loveland home with his partner—and fellow Sculpture in the Park artist—Lorri Acott (above). His large-scale bronze sculptures can be spotted around the Denver metro area, most notably his life-size eagle soaring over the Parker Police Station. The bronze bird is suspended 14 feet in the air by two stainless steel pillars, one representing strength and the other safety. Birders won’t need their binoculars to spot Schultz’s 2023 addition to the Benson Sculpture Garden. In “Morning Flight,” a fearsome hawk with spiral petroglyphs across its wings chases a rabbit, which leaves behind nothing but its shadow.
Alex Chitura
A festival fan favorite, Alex Chitura’s work celebrates the majestic animals of his African home. Born in Zimbabwe, Chitura attended Masvingo College of Art and graduated in 1979 with distinctions in welding and sculpting. In 2005, he relocated to San Diego, California, where he continues to use those skills to craft detailed depictions of the Mother Continent’s most well-known residents such as giraffes, lions, rhinoceroses, and elephants. But what makes Chitura’s sculptures so striking is that these animals don’t appear suspended in time, rather they seem ready to stomp, stalk, or stride right off the plinth. You can also find his work permanently displayed at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Sculpture in the Park runs from August 9–11. Tickets for Friday’s Patron Party are $75 and can be purchased online. The public show and sale takes place on Saturday from 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday from 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.
