Oxford’s Yokna Sculpture Trail

Published 6:00 am Sunday, January 22, 2017

Soon, you may notice new sculptures popping up around Oxford, and you could be one of the designers.

The city of Oxford, the University of Mississippi and the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council have announced the submission deadlines for their 2017 Yokna Sculpture Trail. The deadline will be Jan. 27 and the admission fee is waived this year thanks to a grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission. Artists from anywhere nationally are encouraged to submit their work.

The submission process is open to all artists who are at least 18 years of age and legal residents of the United States. All works that are entered must have been created within the last five years.

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Once the sculpture designs have been selected, they will fill vacancies in Pat Lamar Park, the Powerhouse Sculpture Garden, Rebel Sculpture Park and the University of Mississippi Museum.

The judges select about half of the sculptures for the trail annually for a staggered two year exhibition period. The sculptures chosen will be on display from April 17, 2017, until March 1, 2019.

The submission process is open to all artists who are at least 18 years of age and legal residents of the States. All works that are entered must have been created within the last five years.

If a work is chosen, the sculptor will receive $1,500 for transportation costs, $1,000 for a successful delivery and $500 for a successful removal.

Wayne Andrews, the director of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council says that the sculpture trail is important to the larger Lafayette County arts scene.

β€œ(The Trail) inspires emerging artist to come and create in the community,” he said in an email. β€œIt provides a unique experience placing art accessible to anyone in public spaces and offers a changing landscape to tour and experience the community.”

 

Some of the current works of art on the Yokna Sculpture Trail include a wide range of metal fabrications. New pieces are expected to be added.

Some of the current works of art on the Yokna Sculpture Trail include a wide range of metal fabrications. New pieces are expected to be added. (Photos by Bruce Newman)