Art takes different shapes, sizes
Virginia Zint/ Reporter
The life-size sculpture outside of Moseley Center is more
than just a man playing a guitar; it’s a symbol of the
area.
The members of the Alamance County Arts Council commissioned
artist J. Seward Johnson to create a unique series of statues
to place around Alamance County to celebrate 50 years of
promoting the arts.
In the county, there are a total of 20 sculptures, and each
sculpture costs between $85,000 and $200,000. They have been
placed around Alamance County since August, and they will be
displayed until October.
This collection, titled “Man on the Street,” is
of life-size sculptures of people in everyday life poses. Put
simply, it is approachable, touchable art.
“To us, it was important to place (the statues) all
over the county; from Elon, to Mebane, to Saxapahaw, to
Glencoe because (the Arts Council) represents the county as a
whole,” said Executive
Director Cary Worthy.
J. Seward Johnson, a member of the Johnson and Johnson©
family, lives in Princeton, N.J. He creates his sculptures at
the Johnson Atelier Foundry and Technical Institute in
Mercerville, N.J. In 1968, he transformed his talents from
painting to sculpture.
Since then, more than 200 of Johnson’s life-size cast
bronze figures have been featured in prominent places in the
public realm such as the Rockefeller Center in New York City
and the Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver, Canada.
The Alamance County Arts Council is one of the oldest arts
councils in North Carolina. Incorporated in 1952, it serves
the county with programs that include exhibitions, permanent
collections, a gift shop featuring local and regional
artists’ works, scholarships, partnerships with other
area organizations and cultural art adventure trips.
The Arts Council is located in the Captain James and Emma
Holt White House in Graham. The Council hopes to promote the
arts, helping local artists feature their work, and allow the
local community to experience some wonderful exhibits.
While right now it may seem that the Council only represents
the visual arts, there are many other artistic opportunities
available.
Groups like the Gallery Players, the Mebane Acting Company,
Alamance Jazz Ensemble and the Company Shops Band are only a
few examples of the performing arts in our county.
"(These groups) are always looking for new
members,” said Worthy.
“We are also looking for more talented people to
showcase, Elon University has some really talented students
and we’d love to show their talents to the rest of the
county.”
If you’d like to contact the Alamance County Arts
Council, call (336) 226-4495 or email
arts@triad.rr.com.
Contact Virginia Zint at
pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247. |
Jessica Frizen/ Photographer Statues
across Alamance County, including the man playing the guitar
on Elon’s campus, (left) commemorate the 50 years the
Alamance County Arts Council has dedicated
to the arts. |
