Local Sculptor's Work Part of University of Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Fayetteville artist Hank Kaminsky will display three of his sculptures, one a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., beginning Jan. 29 on mall between the University of Arkansas Union and Mullins Library.  

The largest piece, “A New Spirit is Rising” takes the words from a 1967 speech by King and shows them as if they were written into the land itself.

The three sculptures are part of a larger group called “Pages from the Book of the Earth.” These sculptures are dedicated to the concept that “the Earth speaks.” The artist describes them as “imaginary landforms held in space by simple steel columns, with structures on the surface which are also words.”

One of the sculptures, “In a Mountain Valley,” has the words of a poem about compassion by university emeritus professor Miller Williams. The third piece, “Cloud Landscape,” depicts the World Peace Prayer: “May Peace Prevail on Earth” as forms floating over the earth.

Kaminsky has been working with words in his sculptures for more than 40 years. His best known piece is the World Peace Prayer fountain in front of the Town Center on the Fayetteville Square. “Cloud Landscape” served as a kind of “primer” for Kaminsky’s assistants to sculpt the lettering of the larger work.

A reception for Hank Kaminsky will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, on the the Arkansas Unionplaza. In the event of inclement weather, the reception will take place in the lobby of the Fine Arts Center.

The sculptures will stay on campus this semester and later in the spring Kaminsky will take part in an art department seminar on sculpture and the function of public art.