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The iridescent glass sculpture “Water and Air” by artist Gerry Newcomb was installed in front of La Conner’s Maple Hall this week. It was to be one of seven sculptures in the 2016 outdoor sculpture exhibition sponsored by the La Conner Arts Commission, but was removed within days of its appearance -- made entirely of glass, town officials considered it too risky to leave it outdoors. – Photo by Don Coyote
Installation began this week for seven pieces of art that will be on display two years in La Conner as part of the town’s newest outdoor sculpture exhibition.
A sparkling, sun-catching, and brilliant blue glass creation titled “Water and Air” is already drawing attention in front of Maple Hall. Artist Gerry Newcomb’s cast glass work is 6 feet tall and is iridescent and textured with a variety of patterns.
Like all the sculptures in the show, this one is for sale — the price for Water and Air is $3,000.
Another sparkler already installed is “Fossil,” now in front of the La Conner Quilt & Textile museum at the Gaches Mansion on S. Second Street.
Well-known local glass artist Lin McJunkin of Conway teamed up with metal sculptor Milo White for the multi-faceted and colorful work. That one is priced at $1,950.
When the sculptures sell, the La Conner Arts Commission, which sponsors the juried show, takes a percentage of the sale price to go toward purchasing public art for the town. One of McJunkin’s works is already in the town collection — her “Kelp Totem” is located at the pergola on the boardwalk.
The rest of the sculptures in this year’s show range in price from $1,400 for Wayne Chaudiere’s metal sculpture titled “Cloud Buster” to $14,000 for a 20-foot-tall wind powered creation by Michael Oppenheimer.
A very unusual looking piece resembles three picnic tables, with the art attributed to Mizonk and titled “Me and My Quiet Thoughts.” According to the town’s bio on the artist, Mizonk “founders” are Wan-Yi Lin and Roger Chen. The sculpture is priced at $10,000.
Two organic shaped sculptures, the colorful “Big Red Wiggle” by Dan Freeman and priced at $3,000, and the $3,500 shiny metal “Inspiration No. 1” by Robert Gigliotti, add curves to this year’s show.
The official opening of the sculpture show with a walking tour is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Gilkey Square on Sunday, May 22. Mayor Ramon Hayes will open the show, and the artists will be on hand. Sculpture tour maps will be available, and people can see artists at work with the Plein Air Washington artists working at their outdoor easels throughout town.
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