Moana Ponder is an artist from Novato, Calif. who called the Loveland Sculpture in the Park Show her “most favorite show in the country.”
She and over 150 other artists from across the country showcased their sculptures at the largest outdoor juried sculpture show and sale in the U.S. at Benson Sculpture Garden on Saturday. The show marks the 40th iteration of the city’s staple event, which began in 1984.
Ponder, a 16-year participant, displayed nine sculptures inspired by broken butterfly wings, self-portraits of Vincent Van Gogh and a pregnant friend of hers.
“It’s like thinking out loud,” said Ponder, when asked about her approach to her art. “The mental creative energy and time it takes to get the inspiration out there is a part of the process and should be included when you ask, ‘How long did that take you?’”
Artists had an assortment of different years of experience at the show. Robert Klose is a Fort Collins artist who showcased his detailed birch wood sculptures at Sculpture in the Park for the first time in his career.
“It’s been awesome, sold a bunch of stuff already,” said Klose. “I have never even attended, I had applied before and this was the first year I got accepted by the jury.”
St. Louis native Gary Mitchell came back for his ninth show and exhibited his aluminum sheet metal sculptures inspired by famous French and Greek statues.
“I don’t sell a lot of my stuff, I don’t have the marketing, well I need some better marketing,” joked Mitchell. “That’s why I’m back.”
On the other end of the experience spectrum was Virginia based artist, David Turner, who participated in his 32nd show on Saturday and was not surprised the show has lasted for four decades.
“I guess I am not surprised it has,” said Turner. “I’m from as far east in Virginia as you can get, so it’s a really long trip. It’s really neat to come out here and see what people are doing.”
Turner has four permanent animal-inspired sculptures in the sculpture garden and most enjoys coming back to the annual show for the atmosphere.
“That includes the people that come to the show and the artists in the show. The people who come to show are fairly well informed about sculptures, I always learn too from other people,” said Turner.
Hundreds of art-infused visitors filtered through four grand tents showcasing metal, wood, bronze, marble and other different materialized sculptures. A silent auction tent was also on the park grounds, where visitors could bid on smaller, less expensive sculptures. The weekend’s sunny weather was interrupted by an afternoon rainstorm.
Melanie Simms was a volunteer at the show and moved to Loveland in 2019 with the intention of being close and joining the Loveland art community. She said she hasn’t regretted it at all.
“It doesn’t really matter whether you love abstract art, or modern art, or realistic art,” said Simms when asked about what she loves most about the annual show. “You can find a piece of art that you can feel, you can touch and you can take it home with you. There’s a different feel about this show, that’s what I love about it.”
Sculpture in the Park will continue from 9:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday. Children aged 14 and under can get in for free and tickets can be purchased at the entrance for $10.
