Peace, Love and Happiness by Scott Gerber
(LEONIA, NJ) -- Sculpture for Leonia had a busy year installing interesting outdoor sculptures throughout Leonia, enriching life in the artsy town. New installations included Thunderhoof by Dave Channon, Springtime by Brian Wohrman, and Steel Saguoro by Joe Chirchirillo. Two existing sculptures were moved to the Borough Hall area to enhance a delightful eatery in the alleyway. The arts organization ended 2022 with the major addition of Peace, Love and Happiness, a trio of giant emojis, by Scott Gerber.
Peace, Love and Happiness is prominently displayed at Station Parkway off Fort Lee Road, an area that is frequently viewed by both residents and non-residents. The sculpture was originally designed for and exhibited at the Seaport in New York City. Scott Gerber created the piece to bring people together to heal through art. The emojis remind us to be hopeful and charitable. The “Peace Sign” encourages viewers to instill calm in themselves; the “Heart” asks them to spread kindness and love to those in need; and the “Smiley Face” shows them the happiness and optimism they should share with others.
Dave Channon’s Thunderhoof was placed adjacent to a municipal parking lot on Elm Place. This horse figure is made of upcycled materials. The artist calls the piece “scrapture,” which he describes as “an ecstatic non-static sculpture fashioned from scrap metal. Satirical. Dynamically imbalanced engineering applied to antique steel implements with shapes that inspire visions. Recycled, repurposed, welded and bolted together. They move with the wind.”
Thunderhoof by Dave Channon
Springtime by Brian Wohrman was installed at The Erika & David Boyd Sculpture Garden, which is the center of the sculpture collection, located at Broad Avenue and Beechwood Place. Wohrman explains Springtime represents a “koi fish emerging from hibernation in the spring and symbolizes renewal in the everchanging circle of life. It is made from upcycled horseshoes which have left their own impressions throughout their lifespan.”
Springtime by Brian Wohrman
Steel Saguoro by Joe Chirchirillo, featured along a retail area of Broad Avenue, is an abstract piece inspired by nature. Chirchirillo tells us, “Over the course of my career I have been concerned with creating work that is drawn from elements found in nature and the mechanical world. My hope is to highlight the similarities and differences of our experiences in the world by creating a “false nature” or nature re-created. I am interested in finding architectural order emerging from nature and translating that into sculpture.”
Steel Saguoro by Joe Chirchirillo
A pleasant new outdoor public dining area next to Borough Hall – called “SoLeil Alleyway Eatery” – was recently created by the town. To add visual interest to the spot, Sculpture for Leonia relocated two sculptures there – Abstract Sophisti Cat by Herrat Sommerhoff and Corn Fields by Susan Buroker. The colorful fiberglass Abstract Sophisti Cat stands in front of Borough Hall, welcoming visitors. Corn Fields is part of the dining area, which is fitting since the sculpture was inspired by the evolution of corn, a major food staple. Inside the Borough Hall building is Ulla Novina’s Ancient Vessel, which was generously donated to the town. Novina writes of her work, “My sculptures are expressions of my love of and my identification with the stone.”
Sculpture for Leonia is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization established in 2006 with the purpose of enhancing the historically rich art and cultural environment in Leonia through the display of outdoor sculpture. The exhibition is centered in The Erika & David Boyd Sculpture Garden, located at Broad Avenue and Beechwood Place in Leonia, New Jersey, with other locations throughout the town and showcases more than 50 sculptures by artists who provide their pieces on loan for the enrichment of the community.
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