Update 9/22/2023: All Summer, into Fall, we've been at work on this multifaceted placement, craning out the bronze sculpture from the NSG Sculpture Garden to the foundry, picking out the stone pavers at Tribble Stone, checking on the basalt columns in Seattle, making templates for the sculpture and the columns, reworking the structural stainless steel undercarriage of the sculpture to fit the new engineering requirements, creating structures for the stone. Strategizing on the logistics of material gathering, packing, loading, shipping and installation timing. It's complex, but we know this plaza will be striking in the end and cannot wait to see the lights that first evening by the river in Little Rock.

6/20/23: The National Sculptors' Guild were contracted by Sculpture at the River Market to create "Inspiration Plaza" designed by John Kinkade for Little Rock, Arkansas.

A 16-foot circle of dark stone pavers, at the center of the plaza will be the bronze sculpture "I Am You", by Denny Haskew. At 14-feet tall, this is the largest self supported cast bronze canopy to date. It is an uplifting piece about human connection. The inside portion of the drapery is covered in 22-kt gold leaf. The sculpture will be based on 3.5-foot basalt columns uplit by embedded light fixtures. 

A buff colored paver pathway will curve away from the center circle. These pavers will match the Dakota sandstone used near the site. On each end of the curved walkway will be four 7-foot tall basalt columns capped with stainless steel light diffusers that are patinaed gold designed and fabricated by Mark Leichliter. The caps will range in height from 24” to 32”. Each cap will be customized to fit the irregular basalt columns. The columns will be natural on all sides except for the side facing the center of the walkway which will be polished. The polished sides will be engraved with inspirational verse. One column will have two polished sides to have the name of the plaza, the date, the donor’s names and the artists/designer’s names engraved on. Each of the polished surfaces will be uplit by a light fixture that is embedded into the stone pavement.

The rest of the plaza will include 24” x 12” pavers that are natural on top and bottom, and sawn sides. Six trees will be planted in the two ellipse landscape areas. Six approx. 2-foot cube donor benches can optionally be added in a semi-circle lining the grass areas of the center plaza to allow a space to sit and contemplate the sculpture.

We believe this placement, central to the River Front Park, will draw and unite the community together and are proud to be part of it.

Update: 9/13/23 
​Jane DeDecker and the National Sculptors' Guild were selected by Hawaii's State Foundation on Culture and Arts for a sculpture placement at their renovated Ho'okipa Cottages, a part of the Women's Correctional Facility. We are really pleased that our concept has been approved by the commissioners and we are into the next phase of realizing this beautiful sculpture as a monumental bronze for the community.

She is a universal figure of compassion and acceptance, representative of a Tutu (grandmother). It is our hope that this figure will provide a positive space for the women, workers and visitors, where one can sit and reflect, seek guidance, see themselves in her, or someone they love. 

The design is of a female figure seated with outstretched arm draped in Hawaiian lei’s that she is offering to her fellow Hawaiians and the island at large; in an expression of aloha; compassion, gratitude and acceptance.

"Beyond a greeting, aloha can describe a deep love and respect for people—including oneself—and places. The ancient kahunas (priests) taught that living the Spirit of Aloha meant sending and receiving positive energy to everything and everyone in your environment." (PBS, American Masters)

The benevolent gesture of the sculpture is symbolic of the traditional Hawaiian customs of 'Aloha' and 'Ho'okipa', the Native Hawaiian value of hospitality and giving. Native Hawaiians have always believed in selflessly extending themselves to others, whether they had close ties with them or not. This is an ideal sentiment for artwork representing the renovated Ho'okipa Cottage, where women learn ways they can individually grow and contribute to the greater community. The more one cares for the world, the greater the world will sustain and provide.

Update 2/21/2024: Metal is back from Madd Castings and now the sculpture is being pieced back together at DeDecker Studio. 

11/18/2022: Jane DeDecker's latest casting of her monumental bronze sculpture "YMCA" will soon grace the entry of The Ottawa YMCA in Ottawa, IL. Pictured here is the sculpture in clay in Jane's Studio when she first sculpted the piece in 2006. For this placement the family donating the sculpture to the Y have requested a modification to one of the portraits to capture the likeness of their daughter. These commemorations make what we do that much more special. The sculpture will be placed in 2024.

"My themes are recurring: Spirit, Love, Forgiveness, Healing, Relationship, Endurance, the Sacredness of the Human Spirit, and the Strength in each of us, the Power of all that is Natural. "Moulding Our Future" embodies all of these messages." 
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"Moulding Our Future" has been warmly received around the world and the recipient of many awards. The bronze sculpture is 86" tall and finished in a multicolored patina.

The dedication was a huge success, we especially  love seeing the real Gene Bess with the sculpture. Gary really enjoyed spending time with the real Gene Bess too. What a great individual to commemorate. Thanks Three Rivers College. 

Upate: 10/10/2019 ​
The National Sculptors' Guild has just finished installing NSG Fellow Jane DeDecker’s “Arkansas Nineteenth Amendment Memorial” bronze sculpture with its custom designed granite and stainless-steel base in Little Rock, Arkansas. Could it be more gorgeous?!!

Special thanks to the Sculpture at the River Market and City of Little Rock for creating such a beautiful plaza for the sculpture.

NSG Public Art Placement #510
​Installation images shown below

This morning we installed multiple pieces by NSG Fellow Daniel Glanz at the new Riverdale Animal Shelter in Adams County, Colorado

“Leaps and Bounds” at the entry. And “Sweet Dreams” with “Grassland Trio” in the nearby calming garden.

We hope you’ll get a chance to enjoy these placements soon. For now the shelter recommends adopting online as construction finishes up, and as we all await a vaccine for in-person adoptions.

NSG Public Art Placements
​ #518 & 519

#PublicArt #NSG #DanielGlanz #NationalSculptorsGuild #LeapsAndBounds 
#SweetDreams #GrasslandTrio #RiverdaleAnimalShelter #AdoptDontShop
#AdamsCounty #JustInstalled #Bronze #StainlessSteel
#ArtistDriven #ClientMinded

DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM OF THE MONUMENT:
Anthony and Stanton writing the Nineteenth Amendment is the nucleus,  the beginning of the women’s movement. To the side of the authors stands the elder Sojourner Truth, a beacon for the movement. The young Harriet Stanton Blatch represents the future. From them rises the next generation of the movement, the “daughters” who ratified the nineteenth amendment, represented by Ida B. Wells and Alice Paul. Standing on the shoulders of giants, these women were elevated by what came before. From this height, the ratification flag cascades to the innumerable circles that ripple outwards.

Sojourner Truth, an African-American abolitionist and women’s right activist, was among the first voices of the women’s movement.  She propelled the movement in its early days because she was willing to speak at time when few women did so.  I have depicted her standing on a pulpit to illustrate how she willingly projected her voice against injustices. Her gaze is to the future – to the horizon – looking to a place where women – together – will turn the world “right side up again.”  In my composition, I have sculpted her in her early 50’s, around the time she would have delivered her seminal speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?” Within the composition, she is a guardian of the belief that women should have the right to vote.

I used the same iconic photograph of the coauthors of the Declaration of Sentiments as inspiration for Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, but I depicted them at their age at the time of the writing of the Sentiments. The two women are physically connected in the sculpture, forming a unified force that truly speaks of the oneness of their purpose. Their words, speeches and wisdom launched a worldwide, peaceful revolution. Even today, these two women offer us the courage and the tools to be the stewards of human rights.

At a joint appearance for Hilary Clinton’s campaign, Michelle Obama echoed Stanton’s words: “With every action we take, with every word we utter, we think about the millions of children who are watching us, who hang onto our every word, looking at us to show them who they can and should be.” Just so, Harriet Stanton Blatch hangs on the words of her mother. She has a look of intensity. She feels it. Blatch is nestled between her mother’s hand that holds a pen and foot that breaks the conformities of the base. She holds onto a bonnet, a symbol of the suffragist she will become. Blatch literally grew up during the suffragist movement, and when it was her time, she absorbed the sentiments of her mother’s words: “We’ve got to bring to the President, individually, day by day, week in and week out, the idea that great numbers of women want to be free, will be free.”

Alice Paul and Ida B. Wells are at the peak of the coalescence, one in their mission. Although these two women would not have marched side by side, their juxtaposition at the height of the sculpture, symbolizes their shared vision of equal rights. Neither one of these women would take no for an answer. In the photos of the suffragist women marching, they are wearing elaborate hats, an announcement of their presence in the movement. I have depicted Alice Paul and Ida B. Wells wearing such hats. Both women also hold a flag.

The portrait of Alice Paul is inspired by the photo of her draping the ratification flag with its 36th star over the balcony of the suffrage headquarters in Washington D.C. I chose to depict Paul and this celebratory moment to capture the monumental triumph of the nineteenth amendment, an accumulation of the efforts of thousands of American women. She appears youthful and weightless in this monument, and yet she was militant in her efforts. She dedicated her life to the movement and after the vote continued until her death the work for the equal rights amendment.

Ida B. Wells began her career as an activist at a young age. She fervently rallied against the practice of lynching even with the threat of being lynched herself.  Wells was known for using the pen and her voice to battle sexism, racism, and violence. In this sculpture Wells stands proudly with a flag of the United States, representing the hope for justice and the rights of every human being. The open gesture of her hand outstretched to the other women around her in this monument reinforces the invitation to join the cause.

Contributions to the monument may be made here. A 501(c)(3) status is pending. Proceeds from the sales of the maquettes make the monument possible. Please contact the National Sculptors' Guild to place the 5ft maquette in your public art program. #BePartOfTheCircle

Update 8/20/18: We're working on some of the smaller details that will be part of the overall placement. Look for the Rotary wheel to be incorporated throughout The Legacy plaza. Some will highlight the contributors that are making this art placement possible. Thanks Rotary Club of Thompson Valley!

The project budget is $180,000 of which 50% has been raised. Please help the Thompson Valley Rotary Foundation Reach their Goal. email for details.
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