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Simsbury Guided Walking-Bike Sculptures Tour
June 3, 2018 @ 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
The rural roadways and glorious gardens of Simsbury are now inhabited by 32 lifelike bronze sculptures depicting people in everyday settings. On Sunday, June 3rd, guests will have an opportunity to discover these stunning figures up close and personal on a guided walking or bike tour throughout town. The excursions will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. and begin and end at notable eatery Millwright’s, located at 77 West St. in Simsbury.
“Now that the buzz has been created about our famous Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Art Trail, we want to give local residents and visitors a different perspective of this outdoor exhibit, which promises to be a major New England attraction this spring and summer season!” said Lisa Gray, Executive Director for the Simsbury Chamber of Commerce.
The walking tour, hosted by Gray, will bring guests to 19 of the 32 statues and cover 2.2 miles. The bike tour, led by avid cyclist Steven Mitchell of the Mitchell Auto Group, presents a lengthier and more thorough option for those interested in seeing a majority of the statues. The first bike ride will pass by 22 sculptures over the course of 4.2 miles, while the second ride will span 17 miles and allow viewing of all 32 sculptures in every location in Simsbury.
Simsbury Free Bike will provide free bikes that can be borrowed by those in attendance who do not own one or are unable to bring their own bike to the event.
Internationally-renowned Artist Seward Johnson is the creator of the sculptures that have been strategically placed all over town, often located alongside existing landmarks and major destinations within Simsbury. The Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Art Trail is the first- ever town-wide artistic exhibit and will be on display until September 15th. Visit www.simsburyarttrail.com for more information about the event.
ABOUT SEWARD JOHNSON
Seward Johnson is an artist, an advocate for the arts, and a philanthropist. His “Celebrating the Familiar” series was first exhibited in 1992 at the New Jersey State Fairgrounds, which he believed would attract people who didn’t like traditional museums. Johnson is the grandson of Johnson & Johnson co-founder Robert Wood Johnson. At age 38, his wife encouraged him to try sculpting, and his first sculpture, “Stainless Girl,” won a national contest sponsored by U.S. Steel. Johnson’s “Celebrating the Familiar” series consists of painted bronze people doing ordinary things in daily life. The sculptures celebrate Americans being Americans, and they can be found in plazas and parks across the country, as well as in Italy and China. Johnson was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2013. His works can be found at sewardjohnsonatelier.org
