Art Around the Corner is an open-air sculpture exhibit in the heart of the historic district of St. George, Utah. It’s a sculpture initiative that features permanent and temporary pieces that are incredibly varied, with everything from the abstract to the figurative, ranging from the serious to the whimsical, and come in all shapes and sizes. The show changes each spring, with approximately two-dozen pieces installed annually.
Art Around the Corner is a great example of what it looks like to turn public space that would otherwise be empty or unremarkable and turn it into something that brings together a community and attracts an audience.
Spider, Steampunk and Sandy
With pieces that run up and down Main Street from the Town Square all the way to the Art Museum, Art Around the Corner allows visitors to explore the city while also locating sculptures of all types and sizes. Physical and digital maps of the sculpture gallery are readily available, with over 60 pieces located in a four-block area. That doesn’t include pieces that are part of different initiatives, like the painted fiberglass statues of Dixie State’s mascot.
As an illustration of the variety in these pieces, “Giant Spider,” a 16-foot metal creature that the artist hopes will start some conversations, while “Sandy & Rascal” is a small bronze piece featuring the figurative forms of a little girl and a dog. “Jules Vern II” is a welded metal fantasy steampunk airship, while “Regaining Composure” is a marble piece that depicts the face of a person intent on staying focused on what’s truly important. The variety across the sculptures is as impressive as it is comprehensive, and the whimsical nature of pieces such as “Fish Tender” have proven to be popular with audiences.
The sculptures are not only distinct in form though, as they also differ in type. Art Around the Corner features pieces that are part of the permanent sculpture collection as well as temporary pieces. With the ability to look back at previous exhibits, visitors can see and experience a variety of artwork, with prices displayed on the pieces that are for sale, and the process to inquire about a piece is exceedingly simple.
Buying a sculpture from the gallery is something Art Around the Corner actively facilitates, as the organization will set up a conversation with the artist of someone’s choice and consult with them about delivery and installation. For anyone not ready to make a full investment, leasing options are available as well.
While the artists and the work they’ve created to enliven the historic district of St. George is the central focus of the initiative, Art Around the Corner is about more than aesthetics. It’s a project that has been designed to make a positive economic, social and cultural impact on the surrounding community.
Connecting with the St. George Community
The Art Around the Corner Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the arts, enriching the community, and bringing fine arts to the heart of historic St. George. The Young Creator Program that was developed to encourage and support secondary students in connecting their art with the community is a great example of how it has done this, but the connections it has made and enabled for the wider community is even more notable.
As visitors look to find and identify all of the pieces in the sculpture gallery, they’ll also come across various plaques and other pieces of history that are called out all along the street. Plaques highlight everything from plants that only grow in the southwestern desert to calling out the location of the Brigham Young Home to displays by the Washington County Historical Society. Combined with separate sculpture initiatives like Dixie State buffalos, visitors are able to form a closer connection to the community by experiencing this variety of the happenings and history as they go along the art walk.
Businesses of all types line the area as well, and many have taken to creating messages and offers that utilize pieces from Art Around the Corner to drive traffic to their establishments. Doing so has opened up new opportunities for them with an audience that wouldn’t be in the area otherwise. Numerous sponsors of the Art Around the Corner Foundation have also been able to expose their businesses to a wider audience.
When it comes to connecting with the community though, the events that Art Around the Corner runs and supports pull people together in especially meaningful ways. Whether it’s a committee meeting, presentation to the city council or anything else, these events pull the community together in ways that speak to the original goals of the organization.
Along with the simple ways the permanent pieces have been integrated into city parks and displays, these events have helped to create a powerful legacy around what it means to connect a community that spans back to previous exhibits and forward to future ones.
A Legacy of Art and History
Similar to other art walks that showcase creative sculptures and the history of the area, Art Around the Corner has been able to turn what would otherwise just be an ordinary street into something monumentous. With new art and installations every year, there’s always something different for residents and visitors to see at Art Around the Corner, and these experiences have helped ensure that historic St. George connects the local community while also creating an essential attraction for visitors.
