It started as a union — a way to knit together one of downtown Little Rock’s beloved public spaces and what was to become one of its most iconic structures.
“When we were getting ready for the opening of the Clinton Library and needed to find a way to link Clinton Presidential Park with Riverfront Park, I realized we could connect the two by placing a few sculptures between the two,” Dr. Dean Kumpuris told Soirée in 2016. “These were so well received that things grew from there.”
Kumpuris, perhaps the neighborhood’s most tireless supporter, grew that success into Sculpture at the River Market in 2007, a nonprofit that helps fund and oversee the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden and installations throughout the city.
The garden and promenade wind through Riverfront Park, taking their cues from the nearby riverbank. Some sculptures look as though Mother Nature herself placed them on the path — rabbits lazing in the sun, birds stretching their wings, foxes flexed to flee. Others demand your attention by sheer juxtaposition — mirrored shapes glinting with sunlight, bronze bodies dancing to unheard music, the garden’s most recognizable “Infinity” in striking yellow.
Praise for public art has been sung the world over, and SATRM President Jane Rogers proudly joins the chorus.
“It sends a message that we care about our city. We want it to be beautiful. We want it to be nice. We take care of it.”
But the most important element, Rogers says, is that it’s for everybody.
“You pay to go to the symphony and the theater, and rightly so,” she says. “But right along with that, to enjoy this art, it’s free and open to the public anytime you want to see it.”
SATRM has outgrown its name in its nearly 20 years, its ever-expanding collection popping up from Chenal to the Southwest Community Center, all displaying a variety of styles and subjects. The growth was natural, especially as sculptures all live on public property and are owned by the city.
“After expanding the garden, we saw what good could be accomplished if we put pieces around the city,” Rogers says. “Just about anywhere you see a nice piece, we probably put it in.”
In its early days, SATRM held muli-day events showcasing artists from across the U.S. and raising funds for sculpture maintenance and new acquisitions. The last show and sale was hosted on its 10th anniversary in 2017, and now the nonprofit is run by a small team of devoted volunteers who facilitate commissioning, installing and fundraising for new pieces.
After an annual call for entries, finalists travel to Little Rock to showcase their designs and donors cast their votes. In May, this event doubled as a reveal party for the sculpture chosen in 2024 that now sits on the Little Rock Regional Chamber grounds.
As for the next piece, winning artist Craig Campbell is already hard at work on a frolicking, larger-than-life bear ridden by an adventurous little boy that will be installed at the corner of Cantrell and Allsopp Park roads next spring.
It’s a high traffic area, and that’s the point. Stumbling upon a new sculpture on an unexpected street corner or seeing the same piece on your daily commute like an old friend, they’re all designed to take you out of the bustle of the world, even if just for a moment.
A personal favorite of Rogers’ is “Lion Pride,” the three aluminum lions perched atop the roundabout at the Little Rock Zoo that bring a smile to her regular route through town.
“What we have to offer is a bright spot for the city,” she says. “When we put our efforts into doing something good for the city and wholesome and to make it better, I feel like that maybe helps balance out some of the bad.”