The Athens-Clarke Library will officially dedicate a new sculpture by Athens native and folk artist Harold Rittenberry on Sunday, March 24 at 2 p.m.
“We are delighted to display Mr. Rittenberry’s beautiful work at our library,” said Athens Regional Library System Executive Director Valerie Bell.
"Salvo" weighs in at an estimated 450 pounds and stands at just over 11 feet at its tallest. It celebrates literacy and learning with Rittenberry’s distinctive motifs, including mythical figures, birds and the animals and culture of Africa.
The sculpture has been installed on the brick plaza to the left of the library’s entrance. It was commissioned by the Friends of Athens-Clarke County Library after Rittenberry’s lauded 2017 exhibit at the library, “Metal Visions: The Work of Harold Rittenberry.”
The sculpture will be dedicated at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 24, followed by a reception hosted by the Friends of Athens-Clarke Library.
“The Friends are a group of citizens who are passionate about our local library,” explained Friends of Athens-Clarke County Library President Jane Russell. “Our volunteers raise money to support the library’s programs and services."
By coincidence, Rittenberry was born on what was to become the site of the Athens-Clarke County Library on Baxter Street. He continues to prolifically create sculptures in his home studio on nearby Colima Avenue.
The reception is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Athens-Clarke County Library at 706-613-3650 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/athens. The library is located at 2025 Baxter Street, Athens.