FLOSC 2017

About the Competition

The 17th Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition is on display on the Lemon Street Promenade now through the end of 2017. Many may not be aware that the sculptures found on Lemon Street are a part of a special exhibit that changes annually. This year’s competition has brought a diverse array of sculptures to those blocks of downtown Lakeland.

A call to artists was put out in the fall of 2016 asking for sculpture submissions to be considered. A jury comprised of City staff, Polk Museum of Art representatives, and members of the arts community in Lakeland gathered to review and jury the pieces submitted. Over 41 submissions narrowing them down to the 10 to be displayed over the next year.

This year’s sculptures have been created from a wide variety of media including steel, cast bronze, glass, and even hosiery. The largest sculpture reaches a height of 25 feet – “Navigator” by sculptor Mike Hansel. Another piece is inspired by the cult Christmas classic A Christmas Story. The sculpture is titled “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out” by sculptor Joni Younkins-Herzog.

People's Choice 2017

Congratulations to M. Esse on winning the 2017 People's Choice Award for the sculpture, Issue!

Meet the Artists

Adam Walls | Hope Mills, NC

A Note from the Artist

The majority of my sculpture is concept driven and is often highly viewer interactive. The conceptual component of my work is often derived from some memory that was stirred by the shape of some found object, or from some memento that I have held on to since childhood. These things bring up thoughts and experiences that challenge me and guide me through the creative process. There are elements in much of my larger works that are derived from my love of fantasy, escapism, and pop-culture imagery.

Some of my sculptures only require the viewer to watch as they see themselves reflected atop a difficult and imposing staircase which could represent the challenges we face in order to achieve our goals.

I find that it is not always necessary to me that the viewer understand my concept, but it is important to me that I provide a visually exciting experience that might encourage the viewer to see and engage art more often.

FLOSC Sculpture

Zihuatanejo (za-wan-ta-nay-ho)
Medium: Automotive painted steel

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Visit adamwallssculpture.com to learn more about this artist!
Glenn Zweygardt | Alfred Station, NY

A Note From The Artist

The theme of my sculpture is the placement of myself in relation to nature. While working in materials such as metal, stone and glass, I am telling three-dimensional stories that capture my life experiences immersed in my perception of a collective consciousness. It is my intention that these stories, spoken through an expression of form, texture and color, will enter into human consciousness and the fourth dimension.

FLOSC Sculptures

Out of the Earth I
Medium: Weathering Steel, Cast Ductile Iron, Cast Bronze, Cast Glass

Out of the Earth II
Medium: Painted Steel, Stainless Steel, Cast Ductile Iron, Cast Bronze, Cast Glass, Granite

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Visit glennzweygardt.com to learn more!
Hanna Jubran | Grimesland, NC

A Note From the Artist

The nature of my goals for art is to reflect my own aesthetic views, concepts and sincerity of expression. My journey began when I left my hometown of Jish, in 1967. My vision, goal and dream is to become an active voice out of this relatively invisible place. Therefore, there is no choice but to continue my intended journey and to give to my community in the East and West a feeling of accomplishment and pride. I am emotionally motivated to be creative and a contributor to humanity. For me sculpture and research is an opportunity I cannot ignore.

FLOSC Sculpture

Celestial Motion
Medium: Steel and paint

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Visit hannajubran.com to learn more about this artist!
Joni Younkins-Herzog | Athens, GA

A Note from the Artist

I am a sculptor in Athens, Geogia with a Masters of Fine Arts/Sculpture from Indiana University and undergraduate studies at UGA. My work is shown throughout the United States; including New York, Fort Lauderdale, San Francisco, the “Art Prize” in Grand Rapids, Michigan and abroad in Italy, Columbia, Peru, Poland, and Ghana, Africa. I work in many mediums. “My search for beauty and purpose manifests into forms that abstract femininity and vitality. Reshaping the body demonstrating curiosity about science, medicine and the search for human perfection. Within my work the human body is displaced retaining ranges of recognizable features-but what remains behind is an interest in the dispersal and fertilization of the feminine mystique.”

FLOSC Sculpture

You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out
Highly influenced by the Christmas Story film I enjoyed as a kid.
Medium: Fiberglass, resin, steel, hosiery, Styrofoam, stucco

Learn More

Visit joniyounkinsherzog.com to learn more!
M. Esse | Dearborn, MI

2017 People's Choice Award Winner!

A Note from the Artist

Most of my artwork is made of used materials and objects, old materials I collect as I work, that I find, or save from some other premature end. These materials have lived a life. They have a history, were exposed to the elements and developed a surface I value. It’s gratifying to look at, to listen to, to try to find ways to give voice to that experience. It’s a collaboration of sorts, one I enjoy and I hope that comes through when you look and see. “Issue” is made from part of the City of Detroit itself. These rods and couplers were part of a water tower that was atop the building at 1250 Library, across the block from where the Hudson’s Building once stood. That old and degraded tower had to come down, but the steel hoops that held it together for near 100 years are now here, living a much different life, waiting for a conversation.

FLOSC Sculpture

Issue
Medium: Steel

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Visit facebook.com/markesse.sculptor to learn more about this artist!
Michael Russell | Athens, TN

A Note From the Artist

My father was a welder. I earned my associates degree as a welder and worked as a welder. For 26 years I taught others how to weld. This time spent working with steel has afforded me an extensive understanding about the characteristics and manipulation of steel. Being creative has always been an essential part of my life and I found enjoyment in song writing and wood carving. It took some years to realize that ultimate self- expression was all around me.

Where others see a pile of steel, I see potential. I am often guided by the metal itself. The shape, the thickness, the texture and even the age of the piece catch my eye. I don’t know the final design. It may be years to realize, but utilizing these industrial steel components, I transform them into works of art. My goal - to create sculpture whose components are unrecognizable in their new form.

My sculptures are emblematic of the transformation and revitalization that is possible within all of us.

FLOSC Sculpture

Ribbon of Steel #10: Twisting A Tree
Medium: Body of boiler tank

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Mike Hansel | Middletown, RI

Note From the Artist

Through sculpture, I aim to distort traditional assumptions relating to purpose while also suggesting a conceptual relationship between life and industry. My primary method is to create forms that appear to be utilitarian, which serve only aesthetic purposes. By taking common objects out of context they can be given a new identity that may lead the viewer to make unanticipated connections that point away from what they might take for granted towards a view of a world that is made up of vaguely familiar elements. Each piece, I think, tells a slightly different story. Some suggest a tranquil association between two very different components. Others allude to machines that can manipulate organic things and sometimes biomorphic forms start to take on mechanical characteristics. All of them attempt to illustrate the sense of irony that exists when objects are separated from their function and are presented in an unfamiliar circumstance.

Where others see a pile of steel, I see potential. I am often guided by the metal itself. The shape, the thickness, the texture and even the age of the piece catch my eye. I don’t know the final design. It may be years to realize, but utilizing these industrial steel components, I transform them into works of art. My goal - to create sculpture whose components are unrecognizable in their new form.

My sculptures are emblematic of the transformation and revitalization that is possible within all of us.

FLOSC Sculptures

Navigator
Three perforated shapes are connected by cylinders that appear to be passing through the piece. The elements supporting the structure are positioned so they align when seen from various angles. Visually, it references instruments used for the measurement of celestial objects for global positioning.
Medium: Aluminum

Split Decision
“Split Decision” is the result of many experiments using the original form of a sprocket. By reexamining the original shapes, bending, subtracting, and shifting the weight to imply movement; the sculpture arrives at its own unique character.
Medium: Aluminum

Learn More

Visit mikehansel.com to learn more about this artist!
Russell Bellamy | Leesburg, FL

A Note From the Artist

This work deals with the intuitive mechanics and engineering of rural farm life. The understanding of both the agricultural sciences and the ability to replace, repair and combine machines to perform specific and unpredictable tasks is a knowledge and skill often overlooked by the benefactors of this lifestyle. My goal is to shed light upon the intelligence, creativity and problem solving skills of those who provide us with our most basic needs.

FLOSC Sculpture

St. Prego
Medium: Stainless Steel

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Education
MFA, Fine Arts, with a Concentration on Sculpture.
University of Cincinnati – Cincinnati, OH. Class of 2005.

B.A., Fine Arts, with Concentration on Traditional Media.
Minor, Communication Arts.
Georgetown College - Georgetown, Kentucky. Class of 2002.

Visit www.russellbellamy.com to learn more!

View the Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition Archive:
2017 | 2019 | 2020