City Unveils New Student-Designed Sculpture in Central Park

Chesterfield Central Park has a new piece of public art on display, thanks to a year-long sculpture competition that ended on Saturday with the unveiling of a new piece by a Wildwood student artist.

Here's the news release from Chesterfield Arts, which sponsored the competition and hosted the Saturday unveiling:

Chesterfield Arts, bringing the "experience" of art to west St. Louis County, today held a public forum and ceremony unveiling the winning sculpture in the University Sculpture Competition, a year-long public art and community engagement project. The interactive sculpture, entitled "Aspire", created by St. Louis Community College, Meramec sculpture student Rod Callies of Wildwood, is now permanently located along the Stream Walk near the Chesterfield Central Park Amphitheater.  

"Aspire" is designed to be analogous with the growth of the city of Chesterfield and a symbol of the aspirations of Chesterfield citizens," said Callies.

Chesterfield Arts launched The University Sculpture Competition in September 2012 to help develop the next wave of emerging sculptors by providing tangible work experience and to help advance their careers. Callies' "Aspire" was selected out of approximately 20 student proposals because of its unique, pedestrian-accessible design, weather and tamper-resistant materials and themes of emergence and growth. To increase the scope of her public art experience, through a paid internship with Chesterfield Arts, semi-finalist Jennifer Allison, a recent graduate of St. Louis University, was also selected to participate. She assisted with project planning, marketing and installation, and helped facilitate the sculpture-unveiling event.

The competition's finale included a panel discussion and public forum on public art and the sculpture unveiling. Officiating were Chesterfield Mayor Bob Nation and nationally recognized public art experts Liesel Fenner, public art program manager for Americans for the Arts, Washington D.C., and former St. Louisan and international public artist, Kurt Pershke, creator of the famed RedBall Project.

"A community's investment in public artists improves quality of life for residents and visitors alike, making destinations that offer memorable, lasting experiences for all," said Liesel Fenner, panel moderator.