ArtsPARKs
Sculpture Walk at Frank Raflo Park, Harrison Street in Historic Downtown Leesburg, VA
This program is a project of the Leesburg Commission on Public Art
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The Town of Leesburg’s Commission on Public Art (COPA), in cooperation with the Friends of Leesburg Public Arts (FOLPA), presents it's fourth installation of it's “sculpture on loan” program for the period 2022-2024.
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Located along a walkway in Raflo Park on Harrison Street in downtown Leesburg, VA, the exhibit goes from the new Crescent Place development to the W&OD bike trail. The permanent concrete pads were donated to the project by the Lansdowne Development Group and financial support from Middleburg Bank.
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The sculptures are available for sale. 20% of the proceeds from the sale of the sculpture will go back into the program through FOLPA for subsequent years and potential expansion of the exhibition.
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To purchase one of the sculptures, contact our Treasurer, Dianne Capilongo at dianne@leesburgpublicarts.org.
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2022-2024 Installations:
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Pedestal 1: Spirit Vision
Artist: Jim Koenig
1.5' x 5' x 1'
Weight – approx. 45 lbs.
Mixed medium
Price: $1,200
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Inspiration for this sculpture came about by happenstance. Years ago, during a lunchtime walk in the woods near the Leesburg Airport, Jim came upon a series of depressions nearly obscured by overgrowth. Eventually, he discovered 42 unmarked graves in what turned out to be a long forgotten African-American cemetery. Research led Jim to recover the identity of about half of those buried there. Census and other records reveal that some were former slaves who, in the 1870's, began to forge a growing community. Most had a connection to the First Baptist Church of Sycoline, some worked together at the same menial jobs, many were neighbors and they undoubtedly provided support to each other during good times and bad.
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African-Americans historically sought a secluded area for a cemetery. Nevertheless, Jim imagined something, a spirit perhaps, led him to discover the graves before they were completely lost to time or desecrated by development. What he gained during his research of those buried in the cemetery and their families ultimately came back to him as a gift - the notion for a trilogy of award-winning short stories he wrote (The River Stories), and the vision for this sculpture.
Pedestal 2: Oh Joy!
Artist: Sally Myers
4’ x 4' x 9'
Weight – approx. 150 lbs.
Folded mild steel, steel pipe, welded and forged pieces
Price: $4,000
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Oh Joy! is a sculpture about delight, in Sally's life and in your life. This work is part of a series of large steel flower sculptures installed in public parks. Sally folded the steel flowers in a method similar to origami. They are big, much bigger than normal flowers. The stems are very long, putting the bright flowers above your head. Celebrating delight is this sculpture's deep, shallow, and every meaning. Look up. These flowers are springing out of the earth, reaching upward. You are invited to smile. Sally hopes to bring joy to everyone who encounters these large flowers.
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Pedestal 3: Energy Bloom
Artist: Alyssa Imes
6’ x 6' x 10’
Weight – approx. 600 lbs.
Steel, Enamel Paint, Paracord
Price: $5,000
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Energy Bloom is inspired by the ideas of growth and energy. This sculpture will have the colorful reference to plant and energy growth from purple light, which is a combination of red and blue light. The knitted mesh starts from the inside and expands to the outer petals. These petals will suspend and hold a sphere in the middle. The center sphere references the 'spark' of energy that grows into a full blossom.
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Pedestal 4: BioDiversity
Artist: Jim Koenig
46" x 44" x 90"
Weight – approx. 65 lbs.
Mixed Medium
Price: $1,500
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WHEN TREES SKATE, POSSIBILITY TAKES ROOT
"A play in contradictions between the impetuosity of youth and the steadfast rootedness of a tree, this sculpture expresses sheer unconstrained joy and the cheeky exuberance of a fledgling catapulting free, skating off into the future."
With credit to his daughter, Adriano Garnreiter, and his wife, Susanne
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Pedestal 5: Tied Sky
Aritst: Alyssa Imes
2' x 5’ x 9.25’
Weight – approx. 500 lbs.
Steel, Enamel Paint, Paracord
Price: $5,000
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Tied Sky is a sculpture referencing the idea of going beyond the cliche of 'sky is the limit.' The blue netting being pulled to the base of the structure symbolizes pulling the sky down and taking control of your own destiny.
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With Special Thanks to the Sponsors of this Installation:
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Art of the Matter - A Public Charity by Diane and Michael Canney
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Keane Enterprises
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Oak Hill Wealth Advisors
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Rotary Club of Leesburg
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Friends of Leesburg Public Arts
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2020-2022 Installations:
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Pedestal 1: Low-Poly Open Heart (R.I.D.E.)
Artist: m.l. duffy
5’ x 5’ x 2.5’
Weight – approx. 67 lbs.
Welded laser-cut aluminum diamond plate
Price: $25,000
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The Low-Poly Open Heart series was inspired by the artist’s wife Lizzie. While she was away on a trip to Japan with The Phillips Collection, one of his students showed him a computer program he was experimenting with for making digital 3D models. Mr. Duffy decided to try the program himself, making a 3D heart. After numerous iterations, the final form consisted of 96 offset triangular polygons made from laser-cut aluminum diamond plate; a rough, industrial aesthetic for an embarrassingly soft sentiment.
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Pedestal 2: Unbroken Circle #4
Artist: Sally Myers
8’ x 18” x 5’6”
Weight – approx. 210 lbs.
Welded and forged steel and copper
Price: $9,000
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Unbroken Circle #4 is a celebration of a moment. The black birds appear to be landing for a short while and the swallows seem to be flying in and out. The warm copper flowers welcome you. The artist borrowed the gestures and forms of these animals and plants to capture some essence, something that rings true about them. An ancient Chinese quote offers, “first you see the hills in the painting, then you see the painting in the hills.” After seeing these birds and flowers, the artist hopes you begin to see your world a little differently.
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Pedestal 3: Kintsugi Heart
Artist: Kim Pourciau Kim
5’ x 3” x 1’6”
Weight – approx. 220 lbs.
Steel and concrete
Price: $3,000
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The sculpture is inspired by the ancient Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold. It's a practice that teaches broken is not something to hide, and it does not lessen the value. Quite the opposite, it celebrates the "scars," making the object more beautiful. It celebrates the resiliency of the human spirit and evokes a spirit of hope in our ability to overcome.
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Pedestal 4: Sun Flower *2020 People's Choice Award
Artist: Alyssa Imes
8.5’ x 6.25’ x 6.25’
Weight – approx. 300 lbs.
Steel, Enamel Paint, Paracord
Price: $8,000
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Sun Flower uses warm, sunny colors and geometric shapes to create an abstracted flower, because only with warmth and care, people can truly blossom and bring joy to others with their beauty.
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Pedestal 5: Welcome, the Iconic Hand
Aritst: Brian Kirk
6.5’ x 4’ x 3’
Weight – approx. 130 lbs.
Welded steel with blue powder coating
Price: $2,200
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With Special Thanks to the Sponsors of this Installation:
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Keane Enterprises
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Oak Hill Wealth Advisors
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Rotary Club of Leesburg
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2018-2020 Installations:
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Pedestal 1: Kool Dudes *2018 People's Choice Award
Artist: Jim Koenig
Height – 5’-4” Width – approx. 3.5’ at platform Depth – approx. 2’ at platform
Weight – approx. 50 lbs.
Base size – approx. 2’X2’
Tree Roots
Price: $495.
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Locally sourced (Loudoun County) cedar roots for the dudes and base supports; platform is pressure treated plywood. Cedar is a naturally rot resistant material and treated plywood is specifically made for outdoor use. Assembly hardware is rust resistant. Sculpture will be anchored with galvanized “L” brackets on the existing wood platform or using bolts and “L” brackets, if platform is removed. The plastic sunglasses were found along the banks of the Shenandoah after a flood and if vandalized can be readily replaced from my inventory of over 50 pairs retrieved after floods.
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Pedestal 2: Rural Landscape
Artist: Brian D Kirk
Welded and painted steel, 2’ x 2’ x 5’, 2014
Price: $1800.
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Rural Landscape displays my appreciation for choosing to live in the rural setting of western Loudoun County. Surrounded by the mountains and beautiful natural flora and fauna of the area I choose to simplify and live in harmony with nature.
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Pedestal 3: In The Brew, 2016
Artist: Peter Wood
Steel, Dimensions: 76" height, 48" depth, 32" width
Price: $2800.
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The In the Brew is an assemblage of found objects that portrays the many aspects or experiences that makes up each one of us. Patterns cut into the form represents the scars for the tough times, but still allow some light to shine through. Sometimes we find ourselves In The Brew, but that is what makes it life.
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Pedestal 4: Phoenix, 2018
Artist: Peter Wood
Steel, Dimensions: 84" height, 40" depth, 62" width
Price: $3600.
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In these unsettling times, Phoenix reminds us that we will also raise out of the ashes to continue on more beautiful than before. Bolted and welded, the curved, flowing steel pieces come together to inspire us to look to the future.
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Pedestal 5: Pollinator, 2018
Aritst: Michael Clay
Steel
Price: $1900
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With Special Thanks to the Sponsors of this Installation:
Rotary Club of Leesburg
Middleburg Bank: A Division of Access National Bank
Oak Hill Wealth Advisors
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2016-2018 Installations:
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PEDESTAL 1: Sproutman, 2015
Welded and Painted Steel,
Artist: Brian D. Kirk
Price: $2,200
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Sproutman” is a whimsical welded and forged steel artwork inspired by the natural growth of plants. The anthropomorphic form gives the appearance of a growing plant ripe with fruit. “Sproutman” embodies a variety of metal working techniques including cutting, bending, forging and welding.
Sponsored by: Burgevin and Larkin of Wells Fargo
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PEDESTAL 2: Unity, 2015
Artist: Brian D. Kirk
Price: $1,800
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“Unity” was created using heavy, recycled, circular steel scrap cut-outs and fabricated with an arc welder. The bold, geometrical design is grounded by the 4 foot, 1.5 inch steel disk. A curved steel pipe draws the eye upward. The artwork is inspired by the circle in an attempt break the more traditional angular use of steel in architecture. The geometric shapes in nify the asymmetrical composition.
Sponsored by: Rehau Unlimited Polymer Solution
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PEDESTAL 3: The Artist, 2015
Steel Artist: Peter Wood
Price: $2,800
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This sculpture invites the viewer to stop and take a moment to reflect on what is around them. Patterns cut into the form allowing light to come through so the viewer can see what’s beyond what is directly in front of them. Inspired by the nature around us, there is so much to see.
Sponsored by: Knutson
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PEDESTAL 4: Trail Blazer, 2015
Steel Artist: Peter Wood
Price: $1,400 (SOLD)
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Trail Blazer is static but invokes the feeling of motion. It is my hope this sculpture inspires and motivates others to forge ahead. Perhaps the visitor to Raflo Park will view this sculpture and image the possibilities for their path ahead.
Sponsored by: Lawrence and Suzanne Stipek
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PEDESTAL 5: Birdhouse #6, 2015 *People's Choice Award
Steel Artist: Michael M. Clay
Price: $2,200
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This sculpture is the sixth in a series of birdhouses exploring the dichotomy between nature and architecture.
Sponsored by: Rotary Club of Leesburg
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2016-2018 Sponsors:
Middleburg Bank, A Division of Access National Bank
Lansdowne Development Group
Rotary Club of Leesburg
Friends of Leesburg Public Arts
Leesburg Commission on Public Art
Meet The Artists
ALYSSA IMES, ARTIST
Olney, MD
Alyssa grew up in Emmitsburg, MD and currently lives near Washington DC. She received her undergraduate degree from Shepherd University in 2018. During her time in undergraduate school, she used mediums of knitted fibers and communal cast iron. She graduated with her MFA from University of Maryland in May 2022. She has a small cast iron furnace named Phil-US with which she has done over 10 pours at various universities, museums and historical sites. Currently, her work has transitioned from heavy iron work to light fiber works. Through the years of her art practice, she is always inspired by connections she makes with people. Her work reflects on ideas of growth after trauma.
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​​​JIM KOENIG, ARTIST
Harper's Ferry, WV
A signature of Jim's mixed assemblages is the fanciful transformation of objects he's found while wandering meadows, woodlands, streets or sidewalks. Retired after a career managing building maintenance, he now devotes his time to conjuring art, that is when he's not hiking and foraging, volunteering or writing short stories. In addition to his artworks, Jim has gained recognition for his short story fiction (Stones in the River: 20 award-winning short stories). He has been named "Volunteer of the Year" for the National Capital Region for his countless volunteer hours at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Jim holds a BA in history and an MA in museum studies.
To purchase or see more of Jim's art, visit the Gateway Gallery, Round Hill, VA.
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SALLY MYERS, ARTIST
Winchester, VA
Sally lives and makes her steel and clay sculptures on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley. Before moving back to the valley, she spent much of her career teaching art at Ball State University in Indiana. Her artwork has been shown in national and international exhibitions and collected a few awards along the way. Recently, her sculptures have been installed in public parks in North Carolina, Missouri and Kentucky. She spends her days outdoors and wants her artwork to reflect her joyful relationship with nature.
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