Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park Grand Opening

The Newport Beach City Arts Commission will hold a grand opening celebration for Phase IV of the Sculpture Exhibition in the Civic Center Park on Saturday, June 22 from 1 – 5 p.m. at the Newport Beach Civic Center, 100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach.

The event will celebrate the addition of ten new sculptures to the Sculpture Exhibition in the Civic Center Park. The dedication and a special presentation will be held in Council Chambers at 1:30 p.m. with refreshments following.  Artists will be on hand to talk about their artwork and visitors will be able to take a walking tour of the sculptures. Children are invited take part in an art activity during the festivities.

The 14-acre Newport Beach Civic Center Park was specially designed by renowned landscape architect Peter Walker as an intended sculpture garden. Arts Orange County provided professional services for the coordination of the artist selection and installation of the sculptures.

The ten new sculptures were selected from submissions received by a national call for entries based on their artistic merit, durability, practicality and site appropriateness. They are being installed in early June and will remain at the Civic Center Park for two years.  The ten sculptures are as follows: “Spy Boy” by David Buckingham, “Hurricane” by Ray Katz, “The Tot” by Richard Becker, and “Wind Swept” by Lake Daffner, “START Now” by Scott Froschauer, “Contender” by John Merigian,  “Feathers in the Wind” by Alex G., “Chairman of the Board” by Steven Rieman, “Slices of Heaven” by Craig Gray, and “Pinnacle” by Stephanie Bachiero.

Admission and parking are free. For more information on the event or exhibition, go to www.newportbeachca.gov/culturalarts, under Sculpture in Civic Center Park or contact the Cultural Arts Services Office at (949) 717-3802.