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About UsLoveland has been described as "a sweetheart city which has a love affair with the arts". Art seems to be part of the city's heritage and over the years, the Loveland High Plains Arts Council has been the major source of energy behind the evolution of the visual arts, particularly sculpture, in Loveland.
In 1984, a group of five Loveland sculptors, George Lundeen, Dan Ostermiller, George Walbye, Fritz White, and Hollis Williford, together with representatives of the City of Loveland, the Chamber of Commerce and a few interested citizens fostered the idea of a sculpture show in Benson Sculpture Garden. They envisioned the outdoor exhibition and sale as a unique environment for sculptors from across the country to showcase their work as well as a way to generate funding for a sculpture garden. The City of Loveland designated Benson Sculpture Garden as the site for the sculpture garden and in 1985, it became a reality.
The first annual Sculpture in the Park show was held in 1984, with fifty local artists participating. Two thousand people attended the show and purchased $50,000 worth of sculpture. Over the years, the Sculpture in the Park show has expanded its diversity of work to include representational, stylized, and abstract sculpture in a variety of mediums including bronze, stone, wood, ceramic, glass, metal, and mixed media. Eight hundred and ninety-three different artists have participated in Sculpture in the Park, with seven sculptors having been in all twenty-one shows. Sculpture in the Park is now the largest outdoor juried sculpture show in the country with sales over $1 million.
In August 2006, the 23rd Annual Sculpture in the Park show included one hundred and eighty juried artists from around the world. A special "Take Home A Piece of the Park" exhibit featured macquette-sized editions of the sculpture on permanent display in Benson Sculpture Garden. These pieces were available for sale throughout the show. Our OrganizationThe Loveland High Plains Arts Council, a private non-profit organization, was established in 1984 for the purpose of promoting sculptural arts for the cultural and economic benefit of the entire community. The organization is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors and is supported by hundreds of extraordinary community volunteers. The main focus of LHPAC continues to be the organization and sponsorship of the annual Sculpture in the Park show. Our LegacyEach year the proceeds generated from the annual Sculpture in the Park show go towards the purchase of sculpture for Benson Sculpture Garden as well as towards the funding of park improvements and landscaping. To date, over ninety pieces of sculpture grace the grounds of the park. Click here to view the sculpture.
This extraordinary collection of art is situated around a lagoon in the midst of trees, flowers, and natural habitat areas. With the Rocky Mountains as a majestic backdrop, Benson Sculpture Garden has been described as "one of the most unique sculpture gardens in the nation". It is open to the public throughout the year, and annually this "public treasure" draws tens of thousands of visitors from around the world. Contact UsFor more information about the show, a catalog, or an LHPAC membership, you can contact us at:
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