Thanks to recent work by the Roanoke Arts Commission, Elmwood Park has welcomed new sculptures along the Art Walk on Bullitt Ave. The “Larger than Life” exhibition will be on display through April 2027, and includes multiple pieces in Elmwood Park as well as other locations in the City of Roanoke. This exhibition is in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the beloved Trojan Dog by artist Ann Glover, and includes “larger than life” pieces inspired by the world around us.
Dragonfly by Kirk Seese
Made of welded upcycled materials, Dragonfly includes a vintage 1950’s microphone, fire extinguisher tanks, motorcycle gas tanks, Farmall tractor gas tanks, air compressor tanks VW Bug car parts, along with new Plasma cut wings and CNC cut clear polycarbonate with colorful designs printed in using UV inks for a semi-transparent, stained-glass look, as in the case of of the butterflies.”
After everything was welded and assembled, Seese painted the mismatching items to create a unified piece, adding some details of interest, wiring, control panels, buttons, etc. to give each insect a mechanical, robotic feel.
Stiletto by Jonathan Chandler
Standing 6 feet tall and 5 feet long “Stiletto” is a three-dimensional sculpture made of hand-forged and welded steel. Each piece of the sculpture was cut by hand then heated and forged to shape before being welded in place. It is painted in a realistic palette with industrial oil-based paint finished with an Anti-Graffiti and UV protectant topcoat. This imposing sculpture is meant to represent the power and strength of the modern American woman.
Painting the Pileated Woodpecker by Karen Pannabecker
“Painting The Pileated Woodpecker” consists of recycled materials welded and woven into a sculpture of a much larger than life artist’s paint brush painting a pileated woodpecker. Roanoke prides itself on its support of the arts, recycling, its natural environment, and its own future growth. The pileated woodpecker, a common bird in Southwest Virginia, along with the paint brush, represent self-discovery and rebirth, and the encouragement of all residents to develop their full potential. The bird symbolizes protection, connection to nature, spiritual resilience, healing, and perseverance. Its simple action of drilling supports nutrient recycling, management of our insect population, and, like Big Lick (now Roanoke), invites other life to the home it has fashioned.”
In a Tangle by Dan Kuehl
In this sculpture, the tangled cords form the shape of a tree—a crude replacement for the beauty and life of a real, growing tree. The piece features a large electrical plug, its wires extending vertically like a tree trunk. A few feet above the ground, the wires gather into a loose spherical tangle, resembling a simplified tree canopy. This form evokes both the natural and the man-made, offering a poignant contrast between the two.
By presenting the power cord and outlet, Kuehl aims “to magnify the role these objects play in our modern existence. The tangled cord—something so familiar to many—may evoke a sense of being ensnared by our dependence on technology, prompting viewers to reflect on the balance between connection to the digital world and to the natural one.
Pinwheel by Maya Sorhage
Known for its vibrant colors and playful motion, the pinwheel—or whirligig—is a familiar sight in celebrations, gardens, and childhood memories around the world. Its elegantly simple design, with curved vanes catching the wind and spinning around a center point, has existed for centuries, making it a universally recognized and cherished object.
Roanoke, known as the “Magic City,” is a place that embraces creativity and fun—making the pinwheel a perfect fit. Enlarging it to monumental proportions will amplify its whimsy and joyfulness, turning an everyday object into an interactive and engaging experience. I intend for the sculpture to be fully functional, allowing it to move with the wind and transform into a kinetic piece of art.
Toothbrush by Robert Redfearn
A toothbrush is an object that comes in many varieties and shapes and is used to rejuvenate and make more aesthetically pleasing our means with communicating and consuming.” Robert Redfearn’s “Toothbrush” is a model of an analog toothbrush, that is sourced from public domain images, but not after any brand. Redfearn’s sculpture is “reflective of our modern era, so it has design embellishes that call to mind the time in which we live, but none of the electric or digital additions one might find in a contemporary household.”
A toothbrush represents the rituals we have to commence and draw close on our collective daily routines, an act of self-care and good hygiene, an act we all do but often in solitude, and an intrinsically aesthetic activity whether to contend with the gleam of our teeth or the smell of our breath.
Coming Soon: Flor de Vida by Daniel Sol Villanueva
In addition to the “Larger than Life” selections, you can also find Descending Night by Jack Howard-Potter, Hill Climb by Jim Collins, and Altered by Alec Aita on the Elmwood Art Walk. See all sculptures and more artist info here.
Additional Photos:
We’d like to give a special shoutout to our Parks staff who are instrumental in the transition of these art pieces as well as the Central Business District Crew who look after Elmwood Park all year round!
