Celebrated Carmel-based sculptor Steven Whyte will return to the 2011 Carmel Art Festival’s ‘Sculpture in the Park’ in an exciting live public art event. Making his sixth appearance, Whyte will move elements of his Dolores Street studio to a stage in Carmel’s, Devendorff Park for the duration of the festival which runs from Thursday, May 12th, through Sunday, May 15th. Steven's subject, once again, will be revealed over the course of the weekend as Whyte brings the piece to life.

During the event, Whyte and his studio team begin with only a basic armature, or base, and then sculpt an over life size figure of an iconographic personality in history. In previous years the sculpture event has been a highlight of Sculpture in the Park, as hundreds of festival attendees repeatedly visited Whyte to check on the status of the sculpture and to discuss the project with the artist. Past subjects have included Bob Hope, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., extremely popular Abraham Lincoln and last year’s life size John David Crow. The subject of this year’s sculpture will not be announced, Whyte explains that he hopes visitors will attend the festival and watch the figure take shape and recognize the personality.

Originally from England, Whyte is a noted figurative sculptor and is credited with eleven over-life size public monuments in his native England and the United States. These include the Dr. John Roberts Memorial located outside Seaside City Hall, the National Tribute to Bob Hope and Our Nation’s Military in San Diego, and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for Hollywood, Florida. Whyte unveils a new monument this September for Texas A&M University, a 12ft statue of Heisman Trophy Winner John David Crow.

A past vice president of the prestigious, London-based Royal Society of Portrait Sculptors, Whyte relocated to the Monterey Peninsula in 2003. In the summer of 2007, Whyte moved his popular Cannery Row studio and gallery to Carmel. He later expanded the gallery to include Wellington’s Legacy Fine Art Sculpture, a more formal sculpture gallery named in honor of Whyte’s English Bulldog Lord Wellington. In March of 2009, Whyte’s gallery was voted Best Sculpture Gallery by the readers of the Monterey County Weekly, and Best Artist 2004-2008 and the Carmel Pine Cones Best Sculpture Gallery and Best Artist 2009.

Whyte, who operates an open studio and gallery in Su Vecino Courtyard on Dolores Street, is known for his approachable demeanor and desire to educate art lovers and the general public about the process behind the creation of fine art sculpture. “The Carmel Art Festival is one of my favorite events of the year,” Whyte remarked. He explains, “it gives me a chance to sculpt for four straight days and to meet a wonderful mix of collectors and art lovers from throughout the community and the nation. To be able to do both things, outside in beautiful Carmel makes the experience even more magical.”

For more information on Steven Whyte’s Open Studio and Gallery visit ( www.stevenwhytesculptor.com )
Tel. (831) 620-1917
E-Mail: sculptu@earthlink.net

 Steven’s gallery is located on Dolores between 5th and 6th in Carmel.