Main Street gets eight sculptures

Smithville’s Main Street is getting a face-lift with the addition of eight sculptures in the city’s downtown as part of a beautification project.

The sculptures were chosen to be part of the inaugural Sculpture on Main program and competition to promote artists, art and tourism.

The idea came to town several years ago, when city grant writer Jill Strube and former chamber executive director Tina Smith visited Marble Falls, which has a similar program.

“It’s a real draw for the community,” Strube said. “The program is one that brings people in to town.”

The public art project was made possible by a Texas Commission on the Arts grant of $1,000. The city’s cultural district program matched the grant and ended up raising $1,500 in sponsorships to pay for the project. Each artist was given $250 for the transport and installation of the sculptures.

The top three favorite sculptures, as voted on by the public, will win an additional $500, $300 and $200 respectively.

The eight pieces are by five artists and are installed on permanent concrete pedestals with metal plaques along the first and second blocks of Main Street. The materials used for the sculptures range from recycled railroad spikes and carbon steel pipe to marble, concrete, copper and broken plates.

They include “The Working Man” by Jim Woodruff, “Mom’s Day Off ” by Maria Montoya Hohensten, “Ocotillo” and “Ocotillo Grande” by Hiram Walker and “Double Sided Waterfall” by Stephanie Shroyer. Alex Porter had three pieces accepted: “The Big Splash,” “Headed Skyward” and “Triangulation.”

The cultural district will promote the artworks, which are for sale, throughout the year. An artist who sells one of the installations will be able to install another approved piece for the remainder of the program year.

In January, another round of artworks will be accepted for the program and the new pieces will be installed in the city.

“One of the best ways you can have economic development is to promote a town’s unique features,” Strube said. “The places that support artists with a living wage do better. It infuses the community with dollars — the multiplier effect in economics.”

“It’s all positive growth for the community,” she added.

Metal artist Hiram Walker gets help from a construction worker Feb. 8 to move “Ocotillo Grande” to its location at Main Street and Loop 230 in Smithville as part of the Sculpture on Main program. Jill Strube stands ready to help.

PHOTOS BY FRAN HUNTER / FOR SMITHVILLE TIMES Artist Stephanie Shroyer installs her work “Double Sided Waterfall” on Second Street in Smithville on Feb 8.