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Raflo Park - ArtsPARKs - 0a1s REV2 -  27

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 2024-2026.  

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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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2024-2026 Installations:

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Pedestal 1:  Keeping Watch

Artist:  Jim Koenig

72”x 48”x 48”

Weight – approx. 75 lbs.

Mixed Media – tree roots, sheet metal and stone

$950.00

 

The work depicts fierce maternal guard over her young.  In a larger sense, it could be taken as a metaphor for any defiant mission to protect values held dear, threatened by complacency, ignorance or self-serving motivation (think along the lines of the Dr. Seuss classic tale Horton Hears a Who).

 

It is contrived of both organic and man-made material; the base is a tangle of tree roots (originally found in Loudoun County woodlands). The ‘egg’ nestled within an old pot lid and twined copper wire is Shenandoah River rock.  The “wingspan” is a junked auto wheel skirt.

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Pedestal 2:  Tangled Up in Blue

Artist:  Sally Myers

8’x6’x2.5’

Weight – approx. 200 lbs.

Mild steel, welded and forged, copper flowers

Price:  $9,000.00

 

This work is part of an on-going series using large uneven circles, copper flowers, folded steel flowers, and birds.  The steel and copper flowers are folded much like origami.  Three blackbirds are also featured.

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Pedestal 3:  Tondos Pierced

Artist:  Creative Metal Design

8’x5’x1’

Raw aluminum

$11,300.00

 

At Creative Metal Design they pride themselves on creating some of the most original metal work in the country.  For many years the metal has been shaped the old-fashioned way, with a hammer and anvil.  Modern design and fabrication techniques have also been introduced to their operation.  The real power of their art isn’t how they bring it to life – it’s how they get inspired by those ideas in the first place.  Handcrafted from start to finish, the metal designs represent a creative approach to practicality and visual pleasure.  Their quality and beauty make them architectural treasures to be used and appreciated for generations.

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Pedestal 4:  Ode to Clay and Metal Loft

Artist:  CML and CIY Potters

Weight:  Approx. 50 lbs

Hand-Built Stoneware Clay

$2,500.00

 

Inspired by the totem sculpture by “Students of Niles North High School – Visions of the Spirit of Skokie and Chicagoland,” this collaborative project has layers of memory and meaning for the local ceramic community and serves as a memorial to a Leesburg arts business (The Clay and Metal Loft) and artist businesswoman, Amy Manson, who has created and nurtured a community of potters, including hobbyists, artists and everything in between and beyond… from the novice to the experienced.

 

This artwork is a collaboration of area clay/ceramic artists who attended classes and workshops or taught at The Clay and Metal Loft.

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Pedestal 5:  Purgatory

Artist:  m.l. Duffy

48”x24”x24”

Reappropriated stainless steel shop vac, kiln-cast recycled float glass, Low-Voc enamel

$22,000.00

 

Designed/created before Game of Thrones “House of Black & White,” the artwork attempts to articulate the artist’s philosophical struggles with the Catholic concept of Purgatory and was made with the head of a Chinese acupuncture model.

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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:

 

  • Art of the Matter - A Public Charity by Diane and Michael Canney

  • Keane Enterprises

  • Oak Hill Wealth Advisors

  • Rotary Club of Leesburg

  • 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: 

  • Keane Enterprises

  • Oak Hill Wealth Advisors

  • 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

 

 

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​​Meet the Artists

 

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.

www.sallymyerssculpture.com

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CREATIVE METAL DESIGN

Frederick, MD

 

Owned by Peter Markey, an artist who creates on a canvas of iron. Using the hammer in place of the brush, he paints three-dimensional works of art that are functional as well as beautiful.  Peter is a graduate of Turley Forge in Santa Fe, NM, where he mastered the time-honored, traditional method of shaping metal with hammer and anvil. He specializes in custom-built, one-of-a-kind pieces, which interpret the visions of individuals who search for the truly distinctive and unique.

 

Rob Bittner, Mark Whalen, and Elisabeth Arzt collaborated with Mr. Makey on the “Tondos Pierced” sculpture.

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CML and CIY POTTERS

Loudoun County & Surrounding Areas

 

Contributing artists:

 

  Cheryl Austin

  Claudia Ayala

  Jen Berson

  Marlene Chiasson

  Joey Coburn

  Becky Filla

  Andrea Goodhart

  Sylvia Harris

  Kim Hauptman

  Huyen MacMichael

  Bryan Mattraw

  Rose McIntosh

  Lesley McWilliams

  Andrea MeloNewman

  Suzanne Ohanesian

  Lyssa Parris

  Audrey Puderbaugh

  Debbie Rathjen

  Carolee Stearns

  Amy Swartz

  Kim Traficante

  Gretchen Ward

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m.l. DUFFY, ARTIST  

Washington, DC

 

Mr. Duffy was born in Long Island, NY, but has lived in the Washington DC area most of his life. He earned a BA in Art Studio at the University of Maryland, and an MFA from Goldsmiths College, University of London (UK). He currently operates a project-based art practice in Washington, DC.

 

His skills and expertise allow him to complete any project from large figurative bronze sculptures, to huge panels of steel and kiln-cast recycled glass. He uses cutting-edge technology like laser-cutting, 3-D printing, and CAD modeling with traditional aesthetics and methods of sculpture making.

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