Sculptures on the Square 2019!

Since 2003, Troy Main Street and its partners, have championed a variety of extraordinary art exhibits to the downtown Troy area.  It all started with a vision of curating an exhibit of life-size sculptures by Seward Johnson.  From this, Sculptures on the Square was formed, and its mission continues as it introduces outdoor art to residents and visitors.  Beginning June 14, 2019, you can witness the excitement for yourself.

As visitors begin their journey around Troy’s downtown area, they will come upon kids playing Frisbee or a couple drinking coffee.  They will venture upon someone enjoying the outdoors while reading a book or they may see a lovely woman carrying a picnic basket.  But they’re not real.  Instead…they’re beautiful sculptures created by a master sculptor, Seward Johnson. These expressions of reality are easy to imagine, the sculptures are so lifelike.

The Sculptures on the Square committee, led by Troy Main Street, along with many enthusiastic committee members, welcomes Seward Johnson’s “Celebrating the Familiar”.  Back by popular demand, these incredible works of art depict life-like people performing day-to-day activities.  Two additional sculptures will be from Seward Johnson’s “Beyond the Frame” series. These finely detailed vignettes allow visitors to step into the painting and stroll amid the life scale bronze figures, becoming part of the scene. And finally, we will be introduced to a few of his “Icons Revisited”. In this series, Johnson explores what makes an image stick with us; become something more than its one moment in time. As they adorn the downtown streets as if frozen in dance, you may find the sculptures are both lyrical and fluid and can be perceived as engaged with those who visit.

A more local spin to this exhibit will include a series of additional public art displays and interactive workshops and activities for folks, young and old.  Many of these works of art will be displayed in businesses throughout the summer.  This exciting addition has been made possible by Premier Health/Upper Valley Medical Center.

The twenty-one selected sculptures will be available for public viewing on June 14^th and will be unveiled at a public opening on Prouty Plaza.  Live music will follow and will surely kick off this monumental three-month celebration of the arts in downtown Troy.  The Sculptures on the Square event has been made possible by a generous grant from the Troy Foundation and the “Beyond the Frame” series is sponsored by Kettering Health Network.