2010 Patron of the Year

Dalton, Georgia?s Creative Arts Guild is throwing a garden party?a sculpture garden party.

On October 22, the Guild will offer the public a sneak preview of the newly installed Robert Webb Sculpture Garden, a collection of contemporary outdoor artwork. According to the International Sculpture Center website, the collection represents Georgia?s first permanent sculpture garden or park.

Beginning at 6:00 p.m., the public is invited to tour the sculpture garden prior to the installation of plants and shrubs. Some of the artists whose work appears on the grounds will be present to discuss their work. This event is free of charge.

The Robert Webb Sculpture Garden contains works by mid-career and internationally acclaimed artists including Michelle Goldstrom-Lanning (Illinois), John Henry (Tennessee), Ryan McCourt (Canada), Royden Mills (Canada), Frank Morbillo (New Mexico), Troy Pillow (Washington state), Judith Steinberg (Connecticut), Kyle Van Lusk (North Carolina), William Wareham (California) and Robert Winkler (North Carolina).

Through the generosity of local arts patrons George and Rhenda Spence, a vintage Isamu Noguchi sculpture will also be sited on the Guild?s grounds. Works by Georgia artist Kevin Shunn, Maryland?s Michael Little, Oregon?s Aimee Mattila and Georgia?s Jordan Phelps remain from the previous Guild exhibit.

In recognition of the sculpture garden, the Guild?s board of directors selected Webb as the third annual Patron of the Year. A Patron of the Year dinner at 7:00 p.m. in the Guild?s facility will follow the sculpture garden tour. Tickets for the dinner are $50 and dress is business casual/creative casual. Reservations can be made by calling the Guild at 706-278-0168.

?Robert had been working on the acquisition of pieces for the sculpture garden for some time, and recognizing his many contributions to the Guild, including this incredible public art installation, just seemed like perfect timing,? said Terry Tomasello, the Creative Arts Guild?s executive director.

Webb is a former three-term chair of the Guild?s board of directors and a current trustee at the institution. He is the founding editor of Emory University?s 20-year-old national literary journal, Lullwater Review, and a widely published poet, essayist and critic. Webb was the 1991 recipient of a Georgia Council for the Arts individual artist grant in poetry and, as an Emory senior, won a Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts as one of the top fifteen student artists in the US. He is a collector of modern and contemporary art and has offered guidance and support to emerging artists throughout the Southeast. Webb currently works as senior director of people and performance at Mohawk Industries and volunteers his time and talents with a number of local non-profits.

?Robert has been a good friend to the Guild, to the arts and to our community,? said Cathy Snyder, chair of the Guild?s board of directors and co-chair of the Patron of the Year event. ?We are very excited that this year?s event will include a preview of the sculpture garden, which has been a labor of love for Robert.?

Seven years ago, Webb was instrumental in creating a temporary outdoor sculpture exhibit at the Guild, which was curated by world renowned artist John Henry.

?I believe that the arts should be accessible to everyone,? said Robert Webb. ?The Guild offers many free programs, and I enjoyed them as a child and enjoy them as an adult. My experience with the Guild?s previous outdoor art exhibit was that the work brought non-traditional visitors to the Guild?s grounds and eventually through the door. Public art is a magnet for people, particularly children. Their curiosity drives them toward it and their imagination enhances the experience.?

The commitment to making the arts accessibility to everyone has been a part of the Guild?s philosophy since it was established in 1962.

?Last year, Robert helped us honor Bernice Spigel, the Guild?s long-term executive director, as Patron of the Year,? said Snyder. ?He spoke on behalf of the many people in his generation who were influenced by Bernice. In honoring Robert this year, we recognize that his commitment to the arts, like Bernice?s, is driven by a sense that the arts are for everyone. The sculpture garden just furthers that vision.?

The sculpture garden contains more than fifteen works from artists across North America, but Webb sees that as a starting point for making the collection a real cultural amenity for the area.

?Robert definitely wants to expand the garden over time,? said Tomasello. ?He sees this as a starting point. He obtained the funds to pull together a beautiful collection, and he was helped by public spirited artists wanted to support the vision of this project. The Guild is delighted to have the work on the grounds, and we certainly welcome the support of other artists and art patrons to grow this public asset so that the impact can be even more meaningful.?

Chris Arnold, Dalton City arborist, has assisted with the planning of the grounds, which will include a path and flowering shrubs. Installation of the plants will be a part of the October 23 Make a Difference Day projects in Whitfield and Murray Counties, an annual event that Webb partnered with United Way of Northwest Georgia to develop a decade ago.

?The City of Dalton has been supportive of this project through assisting with installation of the sculpture,? said Tomasello. ?We?re grateful that the City values Robert?s efforts to give Dalton the state?s first permanent sculpture garden.?

The sculpture garden will be free and open to the public every day. Learning aids for children and art guides for adults will be made accessible through calling an automated docent service to hear previously recorded comments on the works.
?The sculpture garden is a work in progress,? said Webb. ?It will evolve organically. We would love to include work by emerging artists, particularly students at regional universities who are completing degrees. The opportunities are tremendous. I hope that people will enjoy the sneak preview on October 22 and then revisit the garden for many years to come.?

The Creative Arts Guild is Georgia?s oldest community-based multi-discipline arts center. The Guild provides exhibits and performances to the community as well as providing instruction in visual arts, vocal and instrumental music, dance, tumbling, theatre and creative learning. The Guild is a non-profit organization that serves the community through instructional fees, the contributions of generous donors, government support and grants from foundations and the Georgia Council for the Arts. For more information on the Guild, please visit www.creativeartsguild.org.

# # #