2023 SculptureTour sign that was posted on the day of the event at the corner of Santa Fe Avenue and Ash Street. Photos by Nate King/Salina Post
By NATE KING Salina Post
Saturday marked the SculptureTour Salina (STS) UNwrap festivities downtown. Twenty-two sculptures in the 2023 tour were unwrapped along Santa Fe Avenue - the heart of downtown Salina.
As part of the celebration, Cassi Rebman, Belle Plaine, Minn., served as the 2023 juror. Rebman holds a BFA in fine arts studio, sculpture (2015) from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, Minn., an AFA in art (2012) from Normandale Community College, Bloomington, Minn, and her MFA in sculpture is expected in 2023 from Fort Hays State University, Hays.
After viewing the 22 pieces of the exhibit, Rebman presented these three Awards of Merit from the City Lights Stage downtown.
Award of Merit - $750 to Jodie Bliss, of Colorado, for her piece “Phoenix”
“Phoenix,” created by Bliss, recieved the Award of Merit.
Award of Merit - $1,500 to Justin Deister, of Colorado, for his piece “Resilience”
Deister's sculpture titled "Resilience."
Best of Show - $2,500 to Brady Hatter, of Kansas, for his piece “Mr. Hatters’s Pursuits in Becoming Human: 004 Golden Sphere.”
Hatter's sculpture titled "Mr. Hatters's Pursuits in Becoming Human: 004 Golden Sphere." Shown from left, Mike Hoppock, SculptureTour Salina chair, Hatter (artist), Rebman (juror), and Crystal Hammerschmidt, Salina Arts & Humanities. Photo Courtesy Sylvia Rice, Visit Salina director
The public can participate in the People’s Choice Award program by picking up a brochure/ballot from a downtown merchant, the Salina Downtown Inc., office at 134 S. Santa Fe Avenue, Suite 120, the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce/Visit Salina offices at 120 W. Ash Street, or from one of the silver ballot boxes placed at one side of each mid-block pedestrian crossing on Santa Fe Avenue. Once votes are cast, the ballots can be placed in one of the silver ballot boxes. Voting is open to everyone.
The sculpture receiving the most votes by Dec. 31, 2023, will be purchased by the City of Salina to become part of the city’s public art collection, remaining on public display.
SculptureTour 2023 photos
"A Grotto A Dance" created by Kansas artist Tim Chapman. Price: $6,500"Butterflies within Butterfly" created by Reven Marie Swanson, Colorado. Price: $24,000"Engine Failure" created by guest artist Brad Giesecke, Kansas."His Last Rodeo" created by Tim Chapman, Kansas. Price: $12,500"Pirouette at Daybreak" created by Kansas artist Conrad Snider. Price: $21,500"Galloping Ghost" created by Colorado artist Lawrence Starck. Price $3,500."Kaptive Kolor by Klyde O. Scope" created by Kansas artist Robert Peck. Price: $6,000. "We Good Stewards" created by Colorado artist Justin Deister. Price: $8,000"Ladder to the Moon" created by Colorado artist Jodie Bliss. Price: $15,000."Waiting Their Turn" created by Joe and Terry Malesky. Price: $4,200"Hope" created by Missouri artists Joe and Terry Malesky. Price: $8,000"Eyes of Wonder" created by Nebraska artist Sondra Jonson. Price: $9,000"Fantastical" created by Kansas artist Nancy Bole. Price: $10,500"Minimum Chance" created by Kansas artist Rollin Karg. Price: $3,850"Circle of Life" created by Colorado artist Sandy Friedman. Price: $7,600"Green Arch" created by Kansas artist Rollin Karg. Price: $4,350"Warrior" created by Colorado artist Sandy Friedman. Price: $3,900"Split Decision" created by Colorado artist Andrew Libertone. Price: $15,000
