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May 2008: Montpelier’s Fashion Week Art Walk and Montpelier SculptCycle 2008 Opening Coincide in June

Montpelier is overflowing with art in June as the summer Art Walk series starts on June 6, a Montpelier Fashion Week activity. In addition, as part of the Art Walk, participants can preview 20 SculptCycles, sculptures made with recycled bicycle parts, which will be on display around downtown all summer long. The fun and celebration continues on June 7 during the Montpelier SculptCycle Opening Celebration and Reception.

The Montpelier Art Walk continues to generate more interest as more venues join the event. There will be over 20 sites, including two new venues Buch Spieler Music and Green Mountain Medicinals Herb Shop. From 4 pm to 8 pm, visitors to Montpelier will be able to enjoy fine art in our many galleries, stores, restaurants, and government buildings.

The art walk also gives visitors a perfect opportunity to preview the SculptCycles as their locations overlap the Art Walk venues, from the Vermont State Tourist Center on State Street to Main Street; and from The Drawing Board on Main Street to The Lazy Pear Gallery at the roundabout. On Saturday, June 7, the fun continues at 1 pm with a ReStore supervised hat/mask making activity, at the corner of State and Elm, followed by a “reverse parade” around the SculptCycle locations. At 4 pm there will a free public opening reception on the State House lawn with live music provided by the Colin McCaffrey Swing Band with Allison Mann and food/drink provided by local restaurants, including: Ariel’s Riverside Café and Bar, Positive Pie 2, Capitol Grounds, Subway, Royal Orchard Thai, Julio’s Cantina, Nutty Steph’s Granola, and Morse Farm and Sugar Works.

For more details about the art walk, including a list of venues and displaying artists, visit www.lazypear.com or pick up a brochure at any participating location.

April 24, 2008: Read "Squashing the cycle" in the Times Argus

April 2008: Montpelier SculptCycle 2008 Announces Sponsors and Artists

The Montpelier Downtown Community Association is partnering with a talented group of artists and a special group of sponsors to fill downtown Montpelier with an exciting set of SculptCycles, sculptures made utilizing recycled bicycle parts, starting in June and ending in October when the SculptCycles are auctioned off to the public.

SculptCycle 2008 is a cutting edge art partnership that will include parades, biking events, a bike film series, an environmental lecture series, and meet the artist events as well as many other activities to highlight the great art in our community and the importance of environmental stewardship. Some of the proceeds from the partnership will be used by MDCA to further promote Montpelier and its economic vitality through public art projects. MDCA plans to purchase one of the SculptCycles for permanent display in Montpelier in order to add to the community’s inventory of public art.

A great group of 20 artists have been selected. Each artist will receive a $500 for their sculpture, 20 percent of the auction price, and an opportunity to receive prize money totaling $1350. In June, the top three awards will be selected by Vermont Supreme Court Justice, artist, and curator Marilyn Skoglund. The People’s choice award will be selected by votes cast by SculptCycle 2008 visitors and will be announced at the SculptCycle art auction in October.

Selected artists include Peter Harris, Robert Hitzig , Ward Joyce, Eric Keck, Delia Robinson, and Lochlin Smith of Montpelier; Janet Van Fleet of Cabot ; Sofia Shatkivska of Washington; Josh Langlais of Waitsfield; James Westermann of Morrisville; John Brickels of Essex Junction; Kimberley Hannaman Taylor and David Woolf of Burlington; Nancy Hayden of Jeffersonville; Paul Hilliard of West Pawlett; Sam Rossier of Vershire; Jim Walsh of Norwich; Patrick Purcell of New Milford, CT; and Ric Kasini Kadour and Simon Larochelle of Montreal. Additional SculptCycles may be created by the Montpelier and U-32 High School students.

SculptCycle artists have already started fabricating their sculptures and few of the artists have stated a website blog to document their progress. Links to artist blogs can be found on the SculptCycle website: www.sculptcycle.org. Besides the environmental benefits, the use of recycled bicycle parts has provided a great way for community members to partner with artists. As artist Jim Walsh relates: “It’s been great going around meeting and talking to people who are willing to donate their bikes to my SculptCycle project. Nice people all, with stories to tell about the bikes, and excitement to see them have a new life as art.”

Many local business and community members have already become involved with SculptCycle 2008 to ensure that it will have a positive impact on our downtown. Participating organizations include underwriters National Life Group and Vermont State Employees Credit Union, and sponsors: L Brown & Sons Printing, Morse Farm, Onion River Sports, Orlio Organic Beer Company, New England Culinary Institute, Times Argus, The Lazy Pear Gallery, and Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition. SculptCycle 2008 has generated great enthusiasm among the business community as indicated by Director - Community Relations Martha Trombley Oakes, “National Life Group proudly supports SculptCycle 2008, which we believe will only enhance the beauty of the downtown."

November 2007: Montpelier SculptCycle 2008 - A Public Art Partnership Announced

Montpelier SculptCycle 2008 is coming! The Montpelier Downtown Community Association is partnering with a talented group of artists and a special group of sponsors to fill downtown Montpelier with an exciting set of SculptCycles, sculptures made utilizing recycled bicycle parts, starting in June and ending in October when the SculptCycles are auctioned off to the public.

SculptCycle 2008 is a cutting edge art partnership that will enrich the entire community by increasing the profile of Montpelier; enhancing our image as an art-friendly and bicycle-friendly destination; showcasing local and national talent; and connecting art, business, fitness, and environmental communities.

Participating artists will have the opportunity to receive a $500 stipend; 20% of the auction price; and, win prize money totaling $1350. MDCA also plans to purchase one of the SculptCycles for permanent display in Montpelier in order to add to the community’s inventory of public art.

Montpelier SculptCycle 2008 will include parades, biking events, and meet the artist events as well as many activities to highlight the great art in our community and the importance of environmental stewardship. Many local business and community members have already become involved with SculptCycle 2008 to ensure that it will have a positive impact on our downtown. Participating organizations include Vermont State Employees Credit Union, The Lazy Pear Gallery, National Life Group, Times Argus, Onion River Sports, Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition, Orlio Beer Company, Morse Farm and Artisan Hand Craft Gallery. More information about the partnership, events, and our sponsors is available at www.sculptcycle.org.