Art on the Street

Today's Art on the Street sculpture comes from Lafayette Artist, J. Lucas Loeffler. Sky Dance is one of four installed at Festival Plaza in the heart of Old Town Lafayette.

Sky Dance measures 30" x 32" x 12", and weighs 40 pounds. This bronze piece is captivating. Loeffler says, "Years ago I was privileged enough to witness what is referred to as a Ghost Dance - a Native American Ceremony which exhibits many dancers in various forms. The dancer that most fascinated me was the Eagle Dancer. To anyone not present, it would be hard to believe what happened next. The Eagle Dancer seemed to become one with the flame, take flight and vanish into the night sky. This image was a driving inspiration to create this body of work."

J. Lucas Loeffler was born in 1972 on the east coast and moved to Boulder in 1976. At an early age, Lucas showed interest in many disciplines; however, sculpture was the one that suited him most. He began with clay and pottery at age five. He was a quick study and soon began to teach pottery and other classes through his junior and high school years. After high school, Lucas started his own company while simultaneously pursuing his sculpting career. He cast his first Bronze pieces at the age of 26. That same year he was accepted into a wonderful gallery in Santa Fe, who would sell his first sculpture to a museum in Germany. Since then, he has been in many ongoing exhibits, both private and public. Lucas has established the drive and creativity needed to pursue his dreams and still runs the company he started many years ago while consistently sculpting new pieces.

For more information about Art on the Street, to vote on your favorite, or inquire about purchasing one of the sculptures, visit the city website.

Art on the Street

To continue the tour of Art on the Street, I though I would give you a little more information about the program. Modeled after other similar outdoor art programs, the city of Lafayette essentially leases these sculptures from the artists for a small stipend. In addition to the stipend, the artist receives a fair amount of publicity and has their work on display and for sale for the period of one year.

At the end of the year long period, unsold art will be returned to the artist and new sculpture will be chosen. The goal that the Public Art Committee has set is to expand the number of sculpture by four more each year for several years. This year we have 8, we hope to install 12 next summer.

Today's sculpture is Banned, by Jim Small. This piece is made of stainless steel and aluminum and measures 13.5' x 6' x 4.5', and weighs 150 lbs.

Banned is a whimsical, over-sized interpretation of the once popular game lawn darts or jarts. The dart at one time was one of the most enjoyed backyard lawn games but was banned from production in the 80’s due to injuries of the players. Banned is part of a larger than life series of objects from our past. The fins of Banned spin in windy conditions.

Banned is place on the west side of Festival Plaza, at the intersection of Chester Street and Public Road. It's bright color and enormous size draws attention. It is a fun piece for all ages.

For more information about Art on the Street, to vote on your favorite, or inquire about purchasing one of the sculptures, visit the city website.

Art on the Street

One of Lafayette's largest Public Art Committee endeavours is the Art on the Street installation. This rotating public sculpture gallery on Public Road in Old Town Lafayette has been in the works for the better part of two years. With a lot of hard work, fundraising and several grants, PAC saw their dream realized with the reception for the unveiling of Art on the Street on June 19. The event was fun, food from Hanna's Catering, music from a bassoon quartet, lots of people, and wonderful sculptures!

I will take several entries to give you a look at each of the sculpture that are part of Art on the Street. For a closer look, come to Old Town Lafayette, and take a stroll up and down Public Road. Three of the eight sculptures have been installed at Festival Plaza, at the intersection of Chester Street and Public Road. The remaining five were on display at the reception, and will be installed later this month.

The first piece I will share with you is the Beanstalk Giant, by Boulder artist Bruce Campbell. This beautiful piece is installed at Festival Plaza, at the intersection of Chester Street and Public Road. It's whimsical nature attracts children and adults to its mystery. He seems to have a calm, wise presence on the lawn of the Plaza.
The Beanstalk Giant was created through a combination of painting, welding and engraving on a grain storage tank salvaged from an old farm. He is a wonderful example of "green" art, which repurposes other materials for a new and creative use. It measures 80" x 64" and weighs 300 pounds.

Through various combinations of welding, painting, carving, and engraving, Bruce Campbell combines painting and sculpture to impart an archetypal, ancient quality and a mystic energy to salvaged iron, steel, wood and stone. The unique shapes and surface patinas, sculpted by time and weather, become an integral part of his imagery, which seemingly emerges from the intricately weathered surfaces. The recycled materials speak to the past through their old world craftsmanship and timeworn surfaces, and speak to the future by sending the message that all can share the planet sustainably while continuing to build, create, and foster cultural expression.

For more information about Art on the Street, to vote on your favorite, or inquire about purchasing one of the sculptures, visit the city website.

Stay tuned for more here, I have 7 more sculpture to share with you!