Lexington Extraordinary Art Project (LEAP)

Enriching the Community of Lexington, Kentucky with Public Art
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The Lexington Extraordinary Art Project (LEAP)


("Pterodactyl Nesting" by Dr. Dubocq)

 

The Lexington Extraordinary Art Project (LEAP) is a plan envisioned by physician/artist David P. Dubocq with the help of the head of the Sculpture Department at the University of Kentucky, Professor Garry R. Bibbs.  The goal of LEAP is to enrich the Lexington Community through the construction of Public Art.

 

Special thanks to Thomas Bunch II, J.D. for his help in the legal creation of LEAP www.bunchandbrocklaw.com

 

 

 

LEAP UPDATE 4/25/2009:

 

SCULPTURE DEDICATION MAY 8th

 

  The College of Education at the University of Kentucky is having a dedication ceremony for Michael Martinez's "Exponential Symmetry" sculpture on May 8th at 4:30 PM at Dickey Hall 251 Scott Street. (Off of South Upper Street where it joins South Limestone). See photos below

    Lexington's newest youth classic rock band, "Bobo" will be playing for the event.

 

 

Sponsorship drive:

 

We are beginning a new sponsorship drive to raise funds for a new sculpture.  The sculpture will be placed on the University Campus for one year then moved to a permanent location. Sponsors will receive recognition for their gifts.

 

Bronze donors ($50 or more) will receive a certificate of donation with a sketch of the sculpture with the artist's original signature

 

 

Silver donors ($100 or more) will receive a certificate and names on a donor list.

 

 

Gold donors ($1,000 of more) will receive a certificate, have their names engraved on the plaque at the base of the sculpture and a small sculpture made by the artist herself

 

Thanks to our currrent Donors: Family Practice Associates of Lexington www.fpalex.com , Suzone Bunch, and the Dubocq Family

 

Here is a photograph of the sculpture temporarily located near the corner of Euclid(Avenue of Champions) and South Limestone on the UK campus.  It will be made available for permanent installation.  Please contact us at this site if you are interested in finding a suitable permanent location for theis work.  It stands 18 feet in height and is entitled, "Suspended in Water or Air"

 

 

 

 

by Emma Blake McClellan

 

     Ms. McClellan is a Baccalaureate of Fine Arts Sculptor in her senior year at the University of Kentucky and has worked in the mediums of cast iron, fabricated steel as well as mixed media and sculptural installations.  She works as a foundry assistant at the Tuska Fine Art Foundry(www.tuskastudio.com) and volunteers at the Sculpture Trails Outdoor Sculpture Park in Indiana (www.sculpturetrails.com) where she has experience at the park which includes over 22 large scale works in assisting in the installation and maintenance of the sculptures.

 

Artist's Statement:

 

    "The current body of work I am producing focuses on on locations, belonging and regional traditions.  Much of this work explores cultural connections to the land and natural environment.

     From these conceptual ideas, the sculpture, Suspended in Air and Water, is formally based on boats in the Kentucky waterways.  This piece is designed to capture the juxtaposition between the meditative and calming effect of floating down a river and the experience of floating through the air.  Rusted red-brown boat forms reference the rich colors of Kentucky waterways, while the "dock" is expressed through vertical poles reaching for the sky.  The boat forms are "lifted" out of the water on poles in the water, emphasizing the removal from their natural environment of the waterways and placement into the urban environment of Lexington, where the boats become vessels floating in the air.  Thr poles create a space for people to walk under and through the work giving views and intimate opportunity to be within the atmosphere created by the sculpture. The viewer can relate their own experiences and reflection of a personally poignant moment in their past such as time spent near a river, on a boat or in some natural connection to the environment.  The sculpture also has lines flowing in an upward progression and linear angles that seemingly balance the forms to give a calming effect on the viewer.

  The model for Suspended in Water or Air is built at a one inch equal to one foot scale.  The full sized sculpture will be eighteen feet to the top with the base six and one half feet by six and one half feet.  The concrete pad will be eight feet by eight feet.

 

Please help get this sculpture permanently placedt by becoming a donor.  All contributions are tax deductable since this is nonprofit venture.

Please contact us at dubocq@leaplex.org .

 

OUR NEXT INSTALLATION!

 

Michael Martinez has completed his sculpture entitled "Exponential Symmetry" installed on 251 Scott Street in front of the College of Education on the University of Kentucky Campus.  Dedication ceremony Friday May 8th, 2009 at 4:30PM.  If you wish to be on our emailing list, just send us and email at dubocq@leaplex.org.

 

 Looking out from the back of the piece

 

Other ways to help us by sponsoring a Sculpture Competition or individual sculpture.

      You can add to the public art of Lexington by sponsoring a sculpture.  The sculptures are created in sculpture competitions.  Your organization could sponsor a competition and then choose a theme and an installation site for a large scale sculpture.  Upper level sculpture students from the University of Kentucky submit a proposal and a scale model for a 12 foot tall or larger sculpture.  The models are judged by a jury of your selection and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes are awarded.  the first place sculpture is then commisssioned to be built.  All of the work will be supervised by Professor Bibbs who has years of experience as an instructor and in the contruction of many large scale works of his own.   The remaining sculptures are available for commissioning as well.  An unveiling ceremony will take place upon the completion and installation of the work.
 
Everybody Wins!
 
     In exchange for your sponsorship, your organization will receive publicity about your philanthropic contribution, will help support the University of Kentucky as well as the artists involved, help enrich the culture of Lexington and have a beautiful work of art to view for years to come.
 
     The artists will receive public recognition for teir work and badly needed funding as well as hands on experience in the sculpture commissioning process.
 
     The University of Kentucky will showcase its Fine Arts department and enhance its curriculum with a built-in art commissioning process and share its talent with our community.
 
     Lexington will receive large scale sculptures at little or no cost for the enjoyment of residents and tourists.
Contact information:
 
Lexington Extraordinary Art Project
 
 
"DNA" by Dr. Dubocq