Voters Choose Favorite In Sculpture Walk-Railside

[GRAND ISLAND, NE March 15, 2024]  An eleven foot tall sunflower was selected by voters as their favorite in the 2023-2024 Sculpture Walk Railside. 

Artist, Alex Shaw of Holstein, Nebraska created “Sunflower” which graces the corner of Third and Elm in Grand Island’s Railside district. A welder by trade, Shaw used mostly scrap metals for his creation, including various diameters of pipe, machine scraps, gears, and welding rods. Copper was added to give the sculpture color and reflect the sunlight.

Shaw said, “Being born and raised in the country, I was inspired to create a sunflower sculpture to show my love for Nebraska’s wild plant life, that I’ve been surrounded by my whole life.”

Shaw’s metal sculptures have won honors at various art exhibits including Wings Over the Platte and during the Nebraska State Fair. He started creating small art pieces for friends, which led to him creating large sculptures for displays and exhibits. 

Sculpture Walk Railside features art from metal works to bronzes, with the artists representing several states. From late May through December 31, the public had the opportunity to vote for their favorite sculpture from among the twelve on display. For being selected as the public’s favorite, Shaw received $500. 

As a revolving art exhibit, all the sculptures in Sculpture Walk Railside are for sale. Anyone interested in purchasing one of the current sculptures on display needs to act quickly. Since the sculptures will be moving to different cities soon, and due to logistical issues, intention to purchase and a monetary hold must be done by March 28 through the Railside office.

New sculptures will start arriving in late April. By the end of May, self-guided walking tour brochures will be available. Information about the sculptures, and locations of the sculptures, will also be available through the Otocast app, which is where the public may vote for their favorites.

Sculpture Walk Railside is a project of the Railside Business Improvement District, and is a collaborative effort with other communities in the state. Sculpture Walk Across Nebraska currently includes sculpture walks in Grand Island, Norfolk, Valentine, North Platte and Columbus.

For more information about Sculpture Walk Across Nebraska, visit sculpturewalkne.com.