Art program begins its second year
MARBLE FALLS — Downtown Marble Falls will soon be getting a fresh look, thanks to a group of local art supporters.
Volunteers are set to replace many of the 36 sculptures that have adorned Main Street for the last year with 42 new ones as part of the year-old Sculpture on Main project.
The program was started to give artists from across Texas a way to show off their craft publicly while adding curb appeal for merchants downtown.
“My original thought was that this would provide artists with a place to show their larger- scale work and outdoor pieces of art. Marble Falls is an ideal downtown location for selling and displaying different types of art,” sculptor Dan Pogue said. Pogue and wife Marti own the Pogue Sculpture Gallery & Foundry near Marble Falls, and both were instrumental in organizing Sculpture on Main last October.
Art supporters and the community are invited to attend a reception for the artists whose sculptures will be on display Oct. 25 from 5-7:30 p.m., and a Public Arts Day event will also be held offering a variety of activities.
Sculpture on Main began as a visual arts exhibition, with organizers placing the sculptures in highly visible locations around the city in hopes of making Marble Falls an art destination. It operates under the umbrella of the Uptown Arts Alliance.
Each year, professional artists apply to the committee for a chance to display their work.
Winning artists are judged on criteria such as originality of the piece, quality, safety, durability and how well it is suited for an outdoor public exhibit. They also agree to loan their art to the city for one year.
Since the program began, two sculptures have been sold, Dan Pogue said.
“The existing sculptures will go back to the artists who created them,” added Marti Pogue. “All of them are still for sale and will remain available until a short time after they are removed.”
When a sculpture is sold, 25 percent of the proceeds go to the Sculpture on Main project to offset operating costs and to buy additional artwork for the city. The rest of the money goes to the artist.
There have been more than 50 applicants this year, and the committee has chosen 42 sculptures. “There are three main things we’re looking for,” Pogue said. “We are looking to sell the pieces on display, to obtain sponsors to help support the program and we need volunteers to help with the work.”
Pogue said donations are always appreciated, and there are four levels of sponsorship.
Sculpture on Main is a nonprofit organization and all sponsorships are tax-deductible.
“We like bringing visitors and tourists here who are interested in the arts and are glad we can help downtown merchants in the process,” Dan Pogue said.
To obtain a sponsorship or for more information about the program, contact Marti Pogue at (830) 693-9544.