George Schroeder Sculpture

WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS -- The Kemp Center for the Arts likes to be cast in a unique light, and 10 new outdoor sculptures to be installed on the art center's grounds this week will fit that mold.

Once installed, the sculptures will be part of the yearlong "Art on the Green" exhibit at the Kemp. The exhibit is designed to give outdoor sculptures their due very few venues dedicate time and space to large-scale outdoor artworks and to expose the public to a form of art that doesn't have to be viewed within the constrained space of a four-walled gallery.

The exhibit and the accompanying Sculpture Garden Invitational, in which the participating artists will compete for awards, debuts May 15 at an $85-a-ticket gala. The opening includes a viewing of the sculptures, cocktails, dinner and musical entertainment.

The exhibit and invitational were started in 2005 in conjunction with the creation of the Minnie Rhea Wood Sculpture Garden. Former Kemp Artistic Manager Lin Purtle and famed Throckmorton sculptor Joe Barrington had long discussed the idea of a sculpture event.

It originally spotlighted only Texas artists. Not this year.

"This will be the third year we've had not just Texas people," said Carlana Fitch, executive director of the Kemp.

Guest curator Sherry Owens, a Dallas-based sculptor who was one of the artists featured in the first "Art on the Green," chose artists from Texas, New Mexico and Louisiana for this show.

"I know all of them. They're all friends of mine," said Owens of the chosen artists.

Patrons may remember one of the artists from his time at Midwestern State University as its sculpture instructor, Robbie Barber.

Not only will the now Waco-based Barber be featured in the show, but so will fellow Texas artists Jill Bedgood and Mary Morse of Austin, Carol Cook of Dallas, Mark Monroe of Sherman, Willie Ray Parrish of El Paso, Chris Powell of Fort Worth and Dean Ruck of Houston. Also displaying sculptures will be Adam Farrington of New Orleans and David Lobdell of Las Vegas, N.M.

Awards will be given to chosen artists the evening of the gala reception.

Artists will arrive a few days before the opening to install their work, while the sculptures from the 2009-2010 show will leave the grounds.

The new sculptures will include Mark Monroe's "As Falls Wichita" "He's going to be building a waterfall," Owens said a figurative piece of three animals stacked like a totem pole and Dean Ruck's sculpture made of mirrors.

Fitch said the Kemp's sculpture garden is unique in the state in that no other museum or art center features a sculpture garden of visiting sculptures.