By SALINA POST
A colorful nod to nature is SculptureTour Salina's 2021 People's Choice Award.
Reven Marie Swanson's Butterfly Tree was announced this morning as the winner. The announcement was made where the sculpture currently resides, near the southwest corner of the Santa Fe Avenue/Iron Avenue intersection.
Butterfly Tree also was the winner of the Kids Choice Merit Award.
Based on public voting each year, the City of Salina purchases for up to $15,000 the top vote getter, and it is placed somewhere in the public domain for everyone to enjoy. There is also a $1,000 Merit Award for the artist whose piece receives the second highest number of votes. The Kids Choice Merit Award of $500 goes to the creator of the piece receiving the most votes from children ages 12 and under.
"At the heart of SculptureTour Salina lies the People’s Choice Award," said Salina City Commissioner Mike Hoppock, who chairs the SculptureTour Salina Committee. "The public has an opportunity to vote for their favorite and have their voice counted when a piece is chosen to stay in Salina."
Transformation by Jodie Bliss received the Merit Award for the second highest amount of votes.
About the People's Choice Artist
Following is information about artist Reven Marie Swanson as provided by SculptureTour Salina.
The natural world has many observers and admirers from bird watchers, farmers and recreationalist. As a sculptor, Swanson seeks to put her observations of garden and back country adventures into a modern interpretation of steel and glass. It is her hope that her fellow observers interpret and covet the forms. It’s an act of stewardship to foster a greater appreciation to protect this beautiful resource.
Her work resides in numerous public and private collections, both nationally and internationally. Highlighted commissions are throughout the Rocky Mountain region, including the National Endowment for the Arts, Trust for Public Lands, and the Museum of Outdoor Arts.
She installs many temporary outdoor installations leased by city municipalities. She works closely with city officials and installation crews to successfully and smoothly install more than a dozen works each year. For Swanson installing public art is like "leaving pieces of sunshine" wherever she goes.