photo by: Kathy Hanks

“American,” a sculpture at the southwest corner of Eighth and Massachusetts streets, was created by Lawrence artist Myles Schachter. It is one of the new sculptures that will be on display as part of the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission's Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition.

A large angelfish sculpture caught the attention of several people walking along Massachusetts Street on Tuesday morning.

“Angelica #2,” a 500-pound steel fish with a limestone face, was created by Joe Malesky, of Strafford, Mo., and was recently placed on display in the 800 block of Massachusetts Street’s west side. It’s one of nine new sculptures that are being installed around town in the coming days as part of the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission’s Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition.

“It stands out; you can’t miss it,” said Cory Hensley, from Independence, Kan., who was in Lawrence for a few days, and noticed the artwork as he browsed on Massachusetts Street.

photo by: Kathy Hanks

“Angelica #2,” created by Joe Malesky of Strafford, Mo., weighs about 500 pounds and includes hub caps and other objects from vehicles. The sculpture is located in the 800 block of Massachusetts Street.

The 31st sculpture exhibition will officially kick off at 5:30 p.m. on June 28, during June’s Final Friday, on the northeast corner of Eighth and Massachusetts streets. That’s where “Birdhouse #8,” a sculpture created by Kenneth Peters, stands. The tall, functional birdhouse was designed for smaller songbirds like finches and bluebirds and blends into the streetscape.

photo by: Kathy Hanks

The functional sculpture “Birdhouse #8,” created by Lawrence artist Kenneth Peters, is on display at the northeast corner of Eighth and Massachusetts streets as part of the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission’s Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition.

The annual outdoor exhibition was founded by local sculptor Jim Patti in 1988. He died in 2017. Patti felt the exhibition provided an opportunity for local, regional and national artists to showcase their work in various locations around Lawrence, according to an email from Porter Arneill, director of communications and creative services for the City of Lawrence.

Since 1988, more than 160 local sculptors have participated in the outdoor exhibition. Each artist receives an honorarium of $1,750 to exhibit their work outdoors for a year. The Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission oversees the city-funded event, Arneill said.

This year’s juror for the exhibition was Rebecca Hackemann, an associate professor of photography at Kansas State University.

Stopping at the fish sculpture, Hensley found the hubcaps and other car parts in the body of “Angelica #2” interesting.

John Jervis, a local artist and musician, said he really admired a work further down the street, on the southwest corner of Eighth and Massachusetts: “American,” created by Myles Schachter, of Lawrence.

The artwork was inspired by a naturalization process that Schachter had witnessed, according to information provided by Arneill. Sculpted from marble and travertine from multiple countries, the piece depicts a single woman’s head. The different stones, with varied features, represent the diversity that makes up this country.

“That’s a work of art,” Jervis said, of Schachter’s sculpture.

Sculptures are also being installed near the Carnegie Building, the Lawrence Public Library, the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, and at Theatre Lawrence.

photo by: Kathy Hanks

“Sunflower,” by Lawrence artist John Rasmussen, is on display outside the Carnegie Building, 200 W Ninth St., as part of the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission’s Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition. The sculpture is made from steel and limestone blocks.

This year’s exhibition will also be included in Otocast, a national smartphone app that allows people to conduct self-tours and learn more about the artists and their work.

photo by: Kathy Hanks

Lawrence artist John Hachmeister’s sculpture “Morning: Steam Meets Wind” is on display at the southeast corner of Sixth and Massachusetts streets as part of the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission’s Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition.

Below are the names of the sculptors, their hometowns, and where their works will be located in Lawrence:

Jacob Burmood, Ottawa, “Draped Form,” the southwest corner of Seventh and Massachusetts streets.

Joelle Ford, Lawrence, “Red,” Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive.

John Hachmeister, Lawrence, “Morning: Steam Meets Wind,” the southeast corner of Sixth and Massachusetts streets.

Joe Malesky, Strafford, Mo, “Angelica #2,” the 800 block of Massachusetts Street, west side.

Elaina Michalski, Liberty, Mo., “Pearl,” Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St.

Kenneth Peters, Lawrence, “Birdhouse #8,” the northeast corner of Eighth and Massachusetts streets.

John Rasmussen, Lawrence, “Sunflower,” Carnegie Building, 200 W. Ninth St.

Myles Schachter, Lawrence, “American,” the southwest corner of Eighth and Massachusetts streets.

Will Vannerson, Kansas City, Mo., “Ecstatic Crepitacean,” at the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 11th and New Hampshire streets.