Sculpture Exhibition Encourages Community to Find Meaning in Art

By Maggie Jackson

Those visiting Rosemary Beach this summer will notice

over a dozen colorful additions to the town’s outdoor

spaces. Running until September 5, the 2021-2022 Rosemary Beach Sculpture Exhibition (RBSE) marks the third biennial art show of contemporary outdoor sculptures on display throughout Rosemary Beach. This signature event showcases Rosemary Beach’s commitment to enhancing the quality and excellence of the town through complimenting its architectural heritage and natural beauty with outdoor sculptures. It also contributes to the cultural arts community in Walton County and beyond. 41 artists from 25 states, Washington, D.C. and Spain submitted a total of 80 sculptures to the juried exhibition and 14 sculptures were selected for inclusion. Each of the 14 selected sculptures reflect the theme for this year’s exhibit, “Caring About Tomorrow: Exploring Environmental Interdependence Through Public Art,” in a variety of ways. “The array of originality in the sculptures ensures that viewers will find those that touch their sensibilities around this subject,” RBSE board member and official tour guide, Ron Strickland, said. “Some are quite provocative, while others more formally or subtly address environmental threats to the future of all living things, including humankind. Taken as a whole, RBSE offers wisdom and inspiration for the creation of a more sustainable world for generations to come.” To encourage the community to come together to see the exhibit and learn more about the art, Strickland leads free guided tours every Tuesday starting at 8:30 am outside of Amavida Coffee. Strickland hopes that the sculptures make people think. “Some of our sculptures with this environmental theme are subtle, but others are powerful statements,” Strickland said. “The way I look at it, in my opinion, is good art can be art that is aesthetically pleasing. Great art is art that makes you think. It doesn’t have to be bright and shiny, it can be dark, but it makes you think. Phenomenal art is art that makes you alter the way you live your life, so recycling or conserving water. I would encourage anyone who does the tour to try this.” More information on the Rosemary Beach Sculpture Exhibit can be found at rosemarybeachsculpture.com. Rosemary Thymes had the opportunity to speak with a few of the exhibits featured artists to better understand their inspiration, vision and process.

MATTHEW DUFFY The theme of environmental sustainability plays a large part throughout the exhibit. What did you take away from this and how is it applied to your piece?

“I do a lot of welding, laser-cutting, and other electronic fabrication so I think about power systems constantly. Most of our systems involve a chokepoint of mechanical energy expenditure turning a turbine. Solar power seems to be a bit more direct, a bit more efficient. Years ago, I was looking at solar power systems for my parent’s house in Maryland and realized they were at the same latitude as Spain, a country famous for lots of sun, yet no one in their community had panels. Solar panels were everywhere when I traveled to Germany, a much more northern (and dreary) country famous for their industrial production. It just seemed silly at the time that we have this huge amount of roofing square footage for warehouses, offices, factories, subdivisions, but no real default of solar electrification. I think this is a huge, missed opportunity for individuals as well as industry.”

LEE BELL What do you hope people take away from seeing your piece in the community?

“Using recycled materials is nice and it is a large part of the show. When artists use recycled materials, and even when they don’t, people can have an ‘aha’ moment about what they are taking for granted on a daily basis. It draws attention to wildlife and a lot of the recycled materials being used affect their environment. Even if it makes them smile. Are they enjoying the colors and enjoying the moment? We take so much for granted and it is good to take a pause and see some of the things you might be missing.”

ROBERT COON What do you hope people take away from seeing your piece in the community?

“Well, I am very simple minded in that regard. There are times when I can say things about the sculpture like what I said about the two things docking, which is why it is called Docking Completed. I am a visual person and I want people to look at the work. Eugène Delacroix’s last entry in his diary was, ‘Above all, art needs to be a treat to the vision.’ I want people to look at my art and smile. They may not know the story or me or my work, but if it is visually pleasing, I have done my job. The first thing I want for them to experience is to have a treat for the vision.”

Fernando Lee Bell Sunrise/Sunset Matthew Duffy