Madison to receive new sculptures on SPACES trail

‘A Carpenter’s Dream’ by Kevin Vanek. (CONTRIBUTED)

“Temple of the Roses” by Antoinette Prien Shultze. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – New pieces of art on the 2014-2016 SPACES Sculpture Trail in Madison will be in place by late October.

In 2012, the trail was expanded into Madison with work by Madison Arts Council (MAC), City of Madison and The Arts Council of Huntsville (TAC), MAC President Shrail Heinrich said. The sculptures are contracted for two years.

For the east end of Main Street, “‘A Carpenter’s Dream’ by Kevin Vanek was perfect — steps away from the former Hughes Hardware Store. The hammer is a symbol of ‘change,’ which is exactly what’s happening in our downtown,” Heinrich said.

“Temple of the Roses” by Antoinette Prien Shultze (7 by 4 by 3 feet) on Main Street’s west end pays homage to Madison’s signature plant, the Knock-Out rose. “How could we pass up a piece with this name?” Heinrich said.

Also on western Main Street, “Pagoda” by Suzi Hendrix boasts a myriad of pleasing colors.

“Three Wise and the Weary III” by Austin Collins recognizes downtown as “the center of festivals and gatherings in Madison,” Heinrich said. “It made me think of flames, like the Olympics, with a flame burning during celebrations. Also, many cities have an ‘eternal flame.'”

At City Hall, “Winter” by Hanna Jubran (7 by 1 by 1 feet) in stainless steel and bronze “caught the eye of one of our councilmen almost immediately,” Heinrich said. Artist Carl Billingsley has donated the sculpture currently at City Hall to Madison City Schools.

“Choosing pieces to bring into Madison was a tougher task than expected,” Heinrich said. “Working with TAC, we were presented with more than 50 amazing options. We wanted our selections to reflect a range of artistic styles and materials.”

Committee members are Heinrich, Liz Cuneo, Amy May and Tim Holcombe.

MAC has renewed its contract with artist Jim Gallucci at Dublin Park for three whimsical benches and the entrance’s Oak Horizon Gate IV.

All new sculptures will be placed by the end of October. For more information, visit spacessculpturetrail.org.