Subject: FW: Celebrating an American Masterpiece in Price Co. Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 15:49:07 -0500 Message-ID: <B46BC0C8F6373F43B0A84089442FE921014D9789@MEWMAD1P0129.enterprise.wistate.us> From: "Seymour, Janet I - WHS" <Janet.Seymour@wisconsinhistory.org>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Amy Ruffo
Special Projects Coordinator
P 920 458 6144
F 920 458 4473
May 14, 2008 Sheboygan, WI
Explore An American Masterpiece: Fred Smith's "Wisconsin Concrete Park"
Among the grandest, most astonishing, and original visions in American
art are the large-scale works of artist-environment builders. In the
hands of these artists, patches of wasteland have become transcendent
kingdoms; intimate interiors are forays into fantasy; homes and yards
are simultaneously museum and masterpiece. Known primarily to their
local audiences, art environments spring from an individual's
relationship to her or his home ground. The results are spaces that have
been transformed into multi-faceted artistic realms.
The Arts Center has been honored with a prestigious "American
Masterpieces" grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funding from the
National Endowment for the Arts. This grant fosters a relationship
between audiences and the organizations and individuals who care for
these existing but fragile artist-environments. An exhibition at the
Arts Center features works of art by fourteen American
artist-environment builders and is on view through the end of 2008. A
series of events at six Wisconsin art environments is planned for the
spring and summer of 2008 to bring local and regional audiences together
in celebration of the American masters in our midst.
On Saturday, June 7, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center (Sheboygan,
WI), Price County, and the Friends of Fred Smith (Phillips, WI) invite
you to discover and celebrate "Wisconsin Concrete Park," an art
environment created by Fred Smith in Price County. Wisconsin Concrete
Park is situated south of Park Falls on State Highway 13.
Friends of Fred Smith Programming Coordinator Ashley Bartelt will
welcome visitors at 1:00 p.m., followed by a presentation by the Arts
Center's Senior Curator of Exhibitions and Collections Leslie Umberger.
The presentation will be followed by an open discussion with individuals
involved in preservation, conservation, and ongoing care of this
American treasure: Russ Kirchmeyer, Vice President of the Friends of
Fred Smith; Polly Anderson, Friends of Fred Smith Committee for
Promotion and Educational Programming; Don Howlett, Friends of Fred
Smith Committee for Conservation; Joan Wimme, Friends of Fred Smith
Board Member and granddaughter of Fred Smith. Additionally, Fred Smith's
only surviving child, Cleo Wimme, will be in attendance. The festivities
continue until 4:00 p.m with a reception and optional guided tours of
Wisconsin Concrete Park.
About The Wisconsin Concrete Park:
Logger, farmer, tavern keeper, and artist, Fred Smith (1886-1976) has
joined the cast of legendary Northwoods characters that so inspired him
during his lifetime. The witty and magical art environment he made over
a period of fifteen years in Phillips, Wisconsin, brings together myth,
legend, local flavor, and history. At the same time, it draws on
regional traditions such as religious grottos, so-called "museum bars,"
and roadside attractions.
Smith began to build his Wisconsin Concrete Park about 1950, eventually
producing over 200 inlaid concrete sculptures on three acres of land.
His subjects included life-size teams of horses and other domestic and
wild animals, European settlers and Native Americans, heroic and
legendary figures, and events of national, local, and personal
importance. Smith intentionally located his park along Wisconsin Highway
13 in the hope that the surprising sight of his sculptural wonderland
would entice people to stop, look around, and be amazed.
In 1976 the Arts Center, Kohler Foundation, the Wisconsin Arts Board,
and a team of volunteers combined efforts for the first time in
preserving an outdoor art environment. Today, the Arts Center cares for
several of Smith's sculptures indoors while the majority of his Concrete
Park is cared for on its original location by The Friends of Fred Smith.
For more information about this event, the presenters, and the entire
program please visit:
http://www.jmkac.org/masterpieces or http://www.friendsoffredsmith.org/
. You may also call the John Michael Kohler Arts Center at 920.458.6144
or the Friends of Fred Smith at 800.269.4505.
For details on each event plus a map to the sites, please visit
http://www.jmkac.org/masterpieces or telephone the Arts Center at
920.458.6144.
The American Masterpieces exhibition and related programming have been
supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds
from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Wisconsin Concrete Park is open year-round during daylight hours with
free admission. For information, call 800.269.4505 or 608.967.2151 or
visit http://www.friendsoffredsmith.org/ .
###
Photo Caption:
Fred Smith, Wisconsin Concrete Park (site view, Farming with Oxen
tableau, Phillips, WI), 1948-1964. photo: 1987, Ron Byers.