By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A new mix of sculptures will be arriving in downtown St. Joseph as part of the 9th annual Allied Arts Council Sculpture Walk.
Executive Director of the council Teresa Fankhauser says the number of sculptures they see for the annual walk fluctuates every year based on two factors.
"How much money we raised, because all of the sculptures, all of the funds to bring the sculptures here, we raise money through sponsorships every year so that's a determining factor," Fankhauser tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "And also, the quality of the submissions, so some years we've had as few as 15."
Fankhauser says last year the council brought 21 new sculptures downtown for the walk. This year features 18 new sculptures.
Chair of the Sculpture Walk Committee Rhabecca Boerkircher says along the walk, which she will be guiding, they'll talk about each piece and who the sculptor is.
"If the sculptor is with us, then they will talk about putting their sculpture together, what their inspiration was, and that's always a lot of fun to hear directly from them," Boerkircher says. "Because usually there's a story behind these and why they've done what they've done, so it's always fun."
Viewers of the sculpture walk are also encouraged to vote for their favorites with a ballot inside the tour brochure. Ballot boxes are located downtown or can be dropped off at the Allied Arts Council office.
The Allied Arts Council will hold a "First Walk" of the tour on June 8th beginning at 6:30pm at the corner of 8th and Felix.
Teresa Fankhauser says a common debate she loves to hear during the sculpture walk about the pieces, is all about if the sculptures are or are not art.
"We have an eclectic mix of sculptures, we have some bronze, we have some abstract, we have all types of materials being used, that there's very vigorous debate, online especially, about what is art and what isn't and we enjoy that, we appreciate that," Fankhauser explains.
Fankhauser says the debate is exactly what art should do is to create conversation.
