(LEONIA, NJ) -- Sculpture for Leonia will present two events as part of Creative Bergen's Arts Amble, an art crawl event throughough participating locations in Bergen County. The purpose is to let the general public discover, support, and enjoy the local artist and business community. Arts Amble 2021 takes place June 11-13.
Artists Reception for "Chasing Nature" on June 12, 2021 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at Station Parkway and Fort Lee Road. Sculpture for Leonia will be presenting 8 new sculptures and the artists who made them. These artists, who exhibit as a group called 14 Sculptors, Inc. are from the New York area and sponsored by NYFA. Also on Station parkway: sculptures by Allen Terrell and Judith Peck.
Sculptures and History on June 13 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at Erika and David Boyd Sculpture Garden. Visitors may explore the sculpture garden and learn about Sculpture for Leonia. It is a volunteer group, responsible for displaying 51 outdoor sculptures around town. Here's an opportunity to meet the committee while enjoying the garden.
From the late 1800s through the mid-1900s, the small town of Leonia, New Jersey was a noted art colony – home to more than 90 professional artists including Lynd Ward, Grant Reynard, Harvey Dunn, Charles Chapman, Howard McCormick, Clara Elsene Peck, Rutherford and Harriet Boyd, Harry Eaton, and Peter Newell. Barns and lofts were converted into studio space throughout the town. Creativity flourished in this community of photographers, writers, actors, and painters.
To this day, art still influences this town that was once home to Pat Boone, Sammy Davis, Jr., Buddy Hackett, Alan Alda, Al B. Sure, and Anthony Bourdain. Classic and original plays are performed at the Civil War Drill Hall by resident acting company, the Player’s Guild of Leonia; craft shows are held in the town center; book readings are presented by authors at the local Library.
One showcase of talent and display of dedication to the arts is the Erika and David Boyd Sculpture Garden, where a rotating array of public art in on loan from its sculptors. This art has also been placed in many other locations throughout town, so that the entire borough can be seen as a sculpture garden.
