"Under the Maple Seeds" takes first place in 2015 Salisbury Sculpture Show

SALISBURY, NC (WBTV) - "Under the Maple Seeds" by Rowan Cabarrus Community College adjunct professor of art Stephen Hayes has taken top honors in the 2015 Salisbury Sculpture Show "Discover What's Outside."

The 12-piece kinetic installment by Durham artist Hayes has been on display at Livingstone College since April. All 20 pieces selected for this year's show may be viewed at various locations in downtown Salisbury and on each of the four local college campuses – Catawba, Livingstone, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Hood Theological Seminary.

Local and nationally known multi-media artist Whitney Peckman selected this year's winners. Peckman noted that as a judge she looks for excellence in composition, creativity in design and concept, use of both positive and negative space, appropriate scale, craftsmanship, and finally, the most subjective quality which expresses emotion/meaning and causes the viewer to want to continue looking.

Here are her comments about the winning pieces:

  *   Norvell Best in Show:  "Under the Maple Seeds" by Stephen Hayes, Durham, N.C.  (Livingstone College). "The kinetic aspect of the multi-piece sculpture pulls me to stand dreamily, recalling childhood, and experiencing the lyricism of Nature so beautifully interpreted."

  *   2nd Place:  "Fighting for Alpha" by Todd Frahm, Swannanoa, N.C.  (Catawba College). "Todd Frahm's Fighting for Alpha" fully achieved excellence. Its narrative is fully expressed, the fighting fish powerful and graceful at the same time, expanding out of the confines of their implied space."

  *   3rd Place:  "Red Green Construction" by Ray Katz, Pontiac, Mich. (Yadkin Bank). "The fun, or joyful aspect of this piece kept me enjoying it for quite some time, and the visual impression stays with me."

This is the seventh consecutive year that Salisbury has hosted the show. The 20 pieces in the show will remain in place until early January 2016. Brochures are available at the Visitor's Center, Rowan Museum, Rowan Library, Waterworks Visual Arts Center, and other downtown locations.

The next nine-month sculpture show will be installed in early April 2016.

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