Sculpture unveiling this weekend

14 sculptures to be installed downtown

MOSES LAKE — This weekend will mark a new year, and a new phase in the city's mounting sculpture garden.

A dozen of the new public works of art will be unveiled on downtown streets this weekend, and another two will arrive in August. The unveiling will be the start of the city's second year of Sculpture Without Walls, the public art project which last year brought several pieces of art to sidewalks and parks throughout downtown Moses lake.

"I'm really excited about the new pieces," Moses Lake Museum and Art Center Director Terry Mulkey said, noting the variety of the sculptures.

The MAC will hold an artists reception and walking tour of the citywide sculpture garden, shortly after the installation this Saturday.

And art fans may notice one familiar piece. "Fox Trot," the sculpture by Gretchen Daiber which has been looking to visitors of Sinkiuse Square over the past year, was chosen as last year's people's choice and was purchased to become a part of the city's permanent sculpture collection.

A final site for "Fox Trot" has not yet been picked; the MAC will position it in a temporary location in the meantime. The MAC is taking suggestions from the public on the sculpture's new home.

Daiber's name will appear on a sculpture plaque this year too. Daiber and fellow sculptor Russ Geh have returned for a second year of Sculpture Without Walls, joining artists throughout from Washington and Oregon.

Sculpture Without Walls is just in its second year, but Mulkey hopes it will continue well after that. He said the city and the project's sponsors have been very supportive.

"Hopefully the word will be out and it will be a permanent program," he said.

As with last year, anyone will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite sculpture at any time during the year, and the people's choice will be purchased by the city.

And if the city continues to purchase new sculptures each year, Moses Lake could have its own permanent sculpture

garden. Mulkey has encouraged many local art lovers to get out there and vote for their favorite, for what could become the next people's choice.

The sculptures will be for sale, and three of last year's pieces have sold since first being placed on city streets.

The reception unveiling will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the MAC at 228 W. Third Avenue. The reception will be an art opening, and honor participating artists for the year's exhibit. Participants will then take a tour of the exhibit.

Mulkey said the sculpture spots have been picked out, and will follow a similar route as the inaugural sculpture season. Because of the downtown construction project at Third Avenue and Sinkiuse Square going on throughout the summer, Mulkey said some statues in that area would be moved to Fourth Avenue.

"Talking to people, people seem to enjoy it," Mulkey said. "I've heard nothing but positives."

Maps for this year's Sculpture Without Walls will be available soon. Ballots to select the People's Choice sculpture will be available at City Hall, the MAC and the Parks and Recreation Department following the unveiling.