Kathryn Lloyd Richards Sculpture Garden

ST. GEORGE, UTAH - Dixie State College of Utah will formally unveil its new Kathryn Lloyd Richards Sculpture Garden with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 22 at the DSC Dolores Dore Eccles Fine Arts Center.

The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m., and all DSC students, faculty and staff, and the public are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served.

The garden is located outside of the Eccles Fine Arts Center just north of the Center's Sears Art Museum Gallery. Frank and Kathy Richards donated $250,000 for the garden, which will feature a variety of donated traditional and contemporary sculpture pieces created by a number of local and regional sculptors, including L'Deane Trueblood, Jerry Anderson, Doug Adams, Matt Clark Annette Everett, Kreg Harrison and Gary Price, just to name a few.

"The Kathryn Lloyd Richards Sculpture Garden adds to the overall beauty of our campus and truly r eflects the class and generosity of its namesake," said George F. Whitehead, "(Frank and Kathy) are the some of the classiest people I have met and the garden reflects their personality. I really enjoyed working with them and enjoy their love of fine art."

Whitehead said the garden is visually appealing with walkways and vegetation, along with a stunning reflection pool with a miniature waterfall. In addition, the garden features meditation benches and wheelchair accessibility.

"When we first set out, one of the objectives was to create a place of tranquility, where someone can go that is soft and relaxing," Whitehead said. "When we completed the reflection pool, we found out by accident that it reflects the lighted 'D' on the Black Hill at night. It's very stunning."

Kathy Richards' love of the arts began when she was young as her mother introduced her and her family to music, dance, theatre, visual arts and other cultural events to help the family become well rounded. She believes the arts are what make us complete as people, enhance our process of learning, improve our emotional expression and acquire an appreciation for diversity.

"I am honored to be part of this wonderful sculpture garden," Richards said. "The garden will create not only a beautiful landscape, but also a functional one that will complement the preexisting architecture and its surroundings. We hope this garden will be a year-round focal point, not only from the inside of the garden, but from the windows looking outside from the Eccles Fine Arts Center."