Summerville plans sculpture exhibit, sale

PROVIDED

'Dreamin' of the Big Game,' before it was stolen in 2007.

Sculpture in the South has made another great "catch," just in time for the 10th annual Exhibit and Sale this weekend at Azalea Park.

"Dreamin' of the Big Game," a bronze that was stolen last year from Gahagan ball fields, was badly damaged and found later at a metals recycling plant. It will be replaced by an identical sculpture by original artist Bobbe Gentry. The new "Dreamin'" will be on display this weekend, said Charlotte Carroll, executive director of Sculpture in the South.

The event is 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Thirty-five of the top fine-art sculptors in the U.S. are expected. Art created in local schools will be featured.

This year's original fine art sculpture will include everything from cowboys to Confederate generals, ballet dancers to mythical characters, and abstract forms to exotic animals, she said.

The return of "Dreamin' " helps make this year's event very special, Carroll said.

Sometime during the night of Sept. 20, "Dreamin,' " which depicts a little boy on his knees, thinking about making a game-saving catch, was stolen from the entrance to the ball fields.

Ball players had developed a tradition of touching mitts with the sculpture on their way to play, Carroll said.

On Nov. 6 of last year, Tony Ramirez, owner of a metal recycling business on Old Orangeburg Road realized the business had taken in "Dreamin,' " and immediately phoned Summerville Police.

After a brief appearance in Azalea Park, the sculpture will be heading back to Gahagan. Safety bollards that will allow pedestrian access but prevent future vandalism will be added, Carroll said.

For more information, see www.sculptureinthesouth.com.

Reach Edward C. Fennell at efennell@postandcourier.com or 745-5865.