Stroll through a garden of sculptures at the Perrysburg Sculpture Walk in Woodlands Park.
This is the fourth year of The Perrysburg Sculpture Walk, located in the entryway and perimeter of Woodlands Park, 429 E Boundary St. The unique outdoor exhibit is designed for all visitors of the park to enjoy while they walk, play or picnic.
The 2024 exhibit features thirteen brand new sculptures, with various materials used and themes highlighted for visitors to view. The sculptures will be on display until August 2025.
A large diversity of materials were used in the construction of the 2024 Perrysburg Sculpture Walk sculptures, including wood, bronze, glass mosaic, concrete, stainless steel, aluminum, painted steel and more.
“There’s just something for everybody, abstract and figurative and animals and symbolism and a variety of materials,” Robin Ballmer, curator and coordinator of Perrysburg Sculpture Walk, said.
The themes displayed in the Sculpture Walk are diverse. Visitors will go through a course of several emotions while walking through the sculpture walk.
RELATED: 20/20 Exhibition: Honoring the Artistic Legacy of Bing Davis
“Pieces like Tree Hugger celebrate the multitasking nature of mothers, while Mum Du Silver offers a poignant reflection on mothers who have lost children to violence. On a lighter note, Hens and Chicks adds a whimsical touch, featuring a bouquet of colorful flowers with smiling faces at their center,” Perrysburg Sculpture Walk said in a press release. “Art enthusiasts and science buffs alike will appreciate pieces such as Quantum Flock, a sculpture that captures the beauty of birds flying in two directions, seemingly at once. Meanwhile, Red/Green Construction draws the eye with its bold geometric shapes and vivid colors.”
“We take you through an emotional and visual tour,” Ballmer said. “There’s a lot to be said for this exhibit.”
Both local and regional artists’ sculptures are displayed at the Perrysburg Sculpture Walk. Artists include Gail Christofferson with Animal House Glass from Tontogany, Fire Blade; George Farbotko from Roscoe, IL, Abiding Observer; Carrie Fischer from Crystal Lake, IL, Mum Du Silver; Robert Garcia from Whitehouse, Burning Bush; James Havens from Woodville, Red Planet; Ray Kats from Pontiac, MI, Red/Green Construction; Pam Reithmeier from Moncolva, Hens & Chicks; Andy Sacksteder from Port Clinston, Tree Hugger and Uplifting; Mike Sohikian from Genoa, Balance 1 and Madame Butterfly Industrial; John Sauvé from Brighton, MI, Man in the City; Bryan K. Tubbs from Ann Arbor, MI, Odyssey; and Michael Young from Chicago, IL, Quantum Flock.
The Perrysburg Sculpture Walk allows people from all walks of life to experience art in a natural and recreational environment, exposing people who would not normally see art of this caliber to a variety of sculptures.
RELATED: 2024 Momentum Festival Begins Friday Sept. 19
“(The Perrysburg Sculpture Walk) is multifaceted,” Ballmer said. “It puts art in front of people that don’t normally seek it out, who run into it through the course of going into the park for another reason, and they see it.”
“It’s just this great thing for art and nature and entertainment, like going to a concert at the park, or going to play disc golf or go to the inquisitive playground,” Ballmer added. “It just meets all different walks of life by sitting where it’s sitting. Walkers, joggers, children. It’s just a gift for Perrysburg.”
Guided tours of the Perrysburg Art Walk are available for people who want to delve deeper into the artwork. Guided tours will take you behind the scenes, giving you more information on the artwork and the artists who made them.
“So it goes in tandem,” Ballmer said. “We have unique and special stories that go with (the sculptures).”
Message Ballmer at [email protected] to schedule a guided tour.
If you would like to learn more on your own time, auditor tours are also available. QR codes linked to the audio tour are available on the sculptures or you can find the audio tour on the Main Art-ery website.
To learn more about the artists and artwork, visit mainart-ery.com/sculpture-exhibit.html.
