(LOS ANGELES, August 31) – In July of this year, Los Angeles was the first US city to host an exhibition of works from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Landscape Sculpture Design Competition. This highly anticipated display includes works from artists around the world, showcasing an assortment of sculptural interpretations of “the Spirit of the Olympics.” Crowds of people admired the 110 sculptures that have toured China for the past year and are currently on an international tour of select locations that include host countries of Russia, Switzerland, Italy and New Zealand. A second official U.S. exhibition is scheduled to take place at the U.N. Building in New York City, later this year.
Three American entrants were recognized for participation in this international tour and have qualified to represent the U.S. in the final selection process which will be decided by early 2008 with gold, silver or bronze medals awarded to the 29 selected artists.
The three U.S. artists: Edward Eyth, California, Carole Turner, Oregon, and the team of Asherah Cinnamon and Scott Fuller, Maine. Their sculptures are each featured prominently in a full color catalog that documents the exhibit.
The competition began in 2005 with a goal of selecting 29 (for the 29th Olympiad) monumental sculptures to enhance the venues and environs of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Documented as the “the largest solicitation for sculptures in Olympic history,” The Beijing Organizing Committee received more than 2600 design proposals from 82 countries. A prestigious panel of international experts selected 290 outstanding designs from this extensive assemblage. The sculptors were then required to submit maquettes (small models) of their designs to Beijing. Various foundries throughout China participated in the process of mold-making and duplication of the entrant’s maquettes, (in multiples of three each) in order to accommodate simultaneous exhibitions throughout China and internationally.
Americans recognized among these 290 juried entrants were: Carole Turner, Markt Diane Weisbeck, Robert LaRocca, Edward Eyth, Shray, Asherah Cinnamon/Scott Fuller, Wanxin Zhang, Kirovsolomon Kiril Vanessa, Orlay Gutierrez, and Shi-Jia Chen.
The 290 sculptures were warmly received by the Chinese people during exhibitions in over 20 major cities throughout China in 2006. In November of that year, a juried process (including public votes cast during the national tour) determined 110 “Excellent Works” for the International Tour to take place December, 2006 through November, 2007.
A televised award ceremony is planned for early 2008 in which artists of the 29 winning sculptures will be awarded medals for their accomplishments.
M. Yee Beijing Olympic News
