New art in St. George: A 12-foot dragon with glowing red eyes; an ant made of license plates

ST. GEORGE — From a fish with teeth sharp enough to star in its own quirky horror flick to a towering 12-foot scrap metal dragon, this year’s Art Around the Corner is a whimsical adventure waiting to be explored.

“Angler of the Deep” by Richard Prazen of South Jordan is pictured in St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo by Joseph Cowdell courtesy of Marianne Hamilton, St. George News

Taking a leisurely stroll downtown offers visitors of every age the chance to encounter artists from across the globe, including talented Utah locals. The best part? It’s completely free.

“There’s no question that having access to public art enriches the quality of life for our community,” said Marianne Hamilton, Past Chair of the Art Around the Corner Foundation. There are always people wandering around, taking pictures, taking selfies with the artwork, just really appreciating it. It’s a real labor of love to be involved in.”

Art Around the Corner began its 20th year by installing 37 new sculptures and works of 3D art in Historic Town Square and Main Street, with additional pieces placed at the St. George Regional Hospital. This initiative collaborates with artists to showcase their creations in various locations throughout St. George, including city streets, parks, City Hall interiors and exteriors and the hospital premises.

This year, 13 new artists are making their debut, marking an exciting addition to the lineup. Adding to the excitement, three father-and-son duos are showcasing their work: Matt Clark and his son Logan, Dan Toone and his son Josh and Deveren Farley and his son Brek.

“Go To Work” By Deveren Farley is installed, which features a large dragon made from tools and other various items, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo by Mo Atkin courtesy of Marianne Hamilton, St. George News

Deveren Farley, a longstanding participant in Art Around the Corner, presents a striking dragon as part of this year’s exhibition. His initial creation of a dragon in Southern Utah in 2022 was constructed from Utah license plates and aptly named “Dad,” which paid tribute to his father after he died. The dragon, depicted in a “sleeping” state, symbolizes his father’s peaceful rest.

This year’s dragon, titled “Off To Work,” comes in at 12 feet tall and is also in memory of his father. According to Farley’s religious beliefs, the conclusion of life marks not an ending but a commencement of continued work, a principle frequently emphasized by his father.

“I just imagined my dad that he’s in his element now,” Farley said. “That he’s working. He’s not just sitting in the clouds doing nothing. And that’s the whole idea of where my sculpture comes from.”

His father was a professional Santa Claus during his life who radiated quiet contentment. Farley envisions his father’s current persona as a “king of dragons,” inspiring him to craft the artwork as a formidable and majestic beast.

“Strength” by Brek Farley features Utah license plates, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo by Joseph Cowdell courtesy of Marianne Hamilton, St. George News

Deveren Farley teaches each of his children how to weld when they turn 10, and his son Brek is no different. Brek grew up watching his dad create art in his shop and often tried to replicate the same artwork his father created for himself. Brek Farley, now 14, had two guitar sculptures in last year’s silent auction and now has a four-foot-tall ant made of license plates showcased in downtown St. George. The ant is titled “Strength”.

“It represents when I was younger and how people told me how small and skinny I was,” Brek Farley told St. George News. “Ants can carry 10 to 50 times their weight, so I wanted to show that I’m not small and little and I can carry a lot.”

Bronze Sculpturist and Contemporary Fine Artist Levi Selway has his first piece in the downtown showcase this year. Titled “Her Perfect 10”, this bronze sculpture is inspired by Nadia Comaneci, the 1976 Olympic Gold Metal winner in gymnastics.

“This is a universal and inspirational event that takes place,” Selway said about the Olympics. “It’s unifying and inspirational. It inspires spectators to pursue excellence in their own lives, not just in sports.”

Comaneci was the first to earn a perfect 10 in gymnastics. Captivated by a photo Selway saw of her mid-air over a balance beam during a performance, he was compelled to create a story around the image with a whimsical take. The piece is part of his “Olympic Legend Series”. The next Winter Olympics are set to take place in Salt Lake in 2034, and he plans to sculpt 28 pieces over the next decade to honor the 28th Winter Olympic Games.

“Her Perfect 10” by Levi Selway of Stansbury Park, Utah is pictured in St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Marianne Hamilton, St. George News

Selway grew up in England playing a variety of sports, including semi-professional soccer and loved watching the Olympics. Selway was trained at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy and now resides in Utah.

“The arts play a special role in society to inspire,” Selway said. “And for me, personally, I’m into the positive art, which has the potential to inspire not just beauty and deeper appreciation for beauty but inspire excellence in others, just like the Olympics.”

Cheryl Collins and Trent Ripplinger, creators of last year’s 12.5-foot-tall “Bird Woman”, have a bird sculpture in this year’s showcase titled “Walk Lightly”. Morgan Clement’s piece “Angels Among Us”, features a solar panel that allows the art piece to be uniquely illuminated at night. The roundabout horse with wings titled “Rogan” is a powder-coated steel sculpture by Denver artist Reven-Marie Swanson, and can be seen at the roundabout at Tabernacle Street and Main Street. The roundabout at Main Street and 200 North features “Title Wave” by Diego Harris.

About Art Around the Corner

The outdoor sculpture gallery started 20 years ago with 12 sculptures and has continued to grow yearly. Each year, a representative from Art Around the Corner attends an outdoor sculpture show in Loveland, Colorado, where they invite specific artists to apply for the St. George showcase. Call for entries are also placed on a national online platform CaFÉ.

Hamilton noted that the art exhibits have not only fostered community connections but have also served as an economic driver for downtown businesses.

“I believe that very sincerely that it brings us all together in a really positive way,” Hamilton said. “It doesn’t matter your background. Everyone comes out and appreciates wonderful art and it makes our lives better.”

All artwork in the Outdoor Sculpture Gallery is available for sale or lease to the public. Click here for a downloadable walking map of the 2024 Sculpture Gallery brought to you by the Art Around the Corner Foundation.

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