On October 21, National Sculpture Society’s Utah Community debuted its first online exhibition. Nearly 20 works were selected for the exhibition which was juried by painter, sculptor, and Utah resident, Patrick Devonas. Three top prizes were of Associate membership in the organization was offered by National Sculpture Society. Third prize of a 1-year complimentary NSS Associate Membership went to Sonatane Falevai Mata’u for Untitled; Second prize of a 3-year complimentary NSS Associate Membership went to Joseph Butcher Millennial Madonna; and First prize of a 1-year complimentary NSS Associate Membership and exposure of work on the NSS website and NSS social media pages, went to Alison Stosich for her sculpture Creeping Up On Me. From her artist statement, Stosich has this to say about the bronze: “Feeling anxious seems like tiny bees are living in your body. At first there are just a few that live in your lungs. Then there are more and more and that makes the buzzing louder and louder. You can feel them moving around each other and get really busy and all your energy goes into getting them to slow down and stay calm. Should you breathe faster? Will that help? Slower? Hold your breath? The anticipation of them growing up your body makes you tighten your shoulders and neck. Maybe they’ll be in your throat soon and will you even be able to tolerate their stings then? You try and think about something else but your mind keeps going back to locating where they are now and knowing they’re creeping up on you.”

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The Black Panther Party marked its 55th anniversary with the unveiling of a new bronze sculpture of Huey P. Newton on Dr. Huey P. Newton Way and Mandela Parkway in Oakland, CA. The site is near where the Panther co-founder was murdered in 1989. The October 24 event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation. Created by Oakland artist and NSS Associate, Dana King, the sculpture is the first permanent public artwork in the city dedicated to the Panthers.

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On October 3, Tyson Snow’s Johnny’s Bandstand was dedicated in Mason County Sculpture Trail in Custer, MI. The sculpture is a tribute to Johnny’s Bandstand, a music hotspot dating back to the early days of rock ’n’ roll, which brought world-famous bands and artists to Custer in the 1940s and ’50s. This is the third piece Snow has created for the Sculpture Trail and one of the most fun to create. “This monument — probably more than any other I have created — has brought a real sense of joy,”  Snow said. “I have been able to put a real personal stamp on it because I can relate to it so much, I can relate to the singing, playing and performing.”