Two new beautiful works are on display at the Halagueno Arts Park, thanks to the efforts of the Mayor’s Fine Arts and Acquisition Vetting Committee (FAAV).
“Cougar,” a bronze sculpture by Cynthia Rowland, and “Ball in the Window,” a mixed-media sculpture by Bill Weaver, were placed at the Arts Park on Oct. 19. The Halagueno Arts Park is located on the library-museum grounds downtown.
“FAAV member and sculptor Wren Prather-Stroud saw ‘Ball in the Window’ and recommended I take a look at the sculpture at Weaver’s studio near Santa Fe,” explained Julia Heaton, chair of the Fine Arts and Acquisition Vetting Committee.
Weaver is a highly-regarded artist with work on display across the nation. He put together “Ball in the Window” after being the beneficiary of leftover airplane glass. After its creation, the piece was placed on display at the Shidoni Foundry near Santa Fe for many years before being returned to Weaver’s studio.
Heaton said she also spotted Rowland’s bronze sculpture, “Cougar,” while touring the studio. Rowland is also a renowned artist who is especially famous for a collection of bronze mountain lions on display in Orlando, Florida. Because of the uniqueness of the two pieces of sculpture, the FAAV decided to purchase both pieces for the park.
“These are beautiful works of art, and I encourage everyone to pay them a visit,” Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway announced. “If you haven’t been to the Halageuno Arts Park, come visit today! We very sincerely appreciate all of the FAAV’s hard work.”
Heaton said the committee is busy planning the next phase of the park, which will be called the promenade. The park has been designed as an inner-city arts park and features a mural by Noel Marquez, sculptures by Glenna Goodacre, and a sculpture by Prather-Stroud, among others. Sculptures and artwork are provided by donors, which have among them local families, the Carlsbad Community Foundation, corporate donors and two long-term loans from New Mexico Arts.
There have also been numerous concerts, performances and festivals in the park since it opened in 2015.
Captions: FAAV committee members and City of Carlsbad employees pose in front of “Ball in the Window” and “Cougar” at the Halagueno Arts Park.