Outdoor Sculpture Walk

Juried Sculpture Walk on Chetola Lake, August 9-11, supported by the Watauga County Arts Council and the North Carolina Arts Council. This is a free daily event open to the public. Up to 50 sculptors will be selected to participate in the Sculpture Walk surrounding the lakeside of Chetola Resort, an 87-acre resort in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and near the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Cash awards total $6,000: $2,500 for Best in Show (Watauga Arts Council Award), $1,500 for First Place, $1,000 for Second Place, $750 for Third Place, and $100 each for three Honorable Mention awards. No commissions on sales. The juror is Dr. Lawrence Wheeler, NC Museum of Art (Retired). Sculptors of all levels—emerging, mid-career, and professional—are welcome. You may install up to three works of scale or up to six smaller works. All types of sculpture are encouraged, including site-specific installations, with preference given to mid and large-scale works. Materials accepted include bronze, resin, 3D printed, plaster, concrete, found and recycled objects, stone, wood, steel, aluminum, copper, and all metals. All works should tolerate weather conditions.

Registration fee is $100, payable upon acceptance by the selection committee. Digital images (1-3 samples) are required for jury selection. Sculptors are responsible for setup, with assistance available for logistics, crane/boom truck services, and forklift for palletized works. Free admission to the Awards Night on Saturday, free parking, and assistance with unloading/loading are provided. Volunteers are available daily for sculptors' needs. Complimentary lodging assistance is available, including hosted stays, Airbnb properties, and RV parking information. The event includes a complimentary "Starry Night" illuminated Sculpture Awards Dinner under the Stars with The Starlight Orchestra on Saturday evening. Exhibition hours: Friday-Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. daily with night illumination. Sculptor setup preferred 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Friday. Contact: [email protected].