The people of Central Florida are very excited as Ormond Beach becomes the next temporary home to the Seward Johnson “Art Imitates Life” Sculpture Tour. Presented by the Ormond Beach Arts District, this event began on November 22, 2024, and will continue to charm visitors until April 2025.
John Seward Johnson II, the late American sculptor, was born in New Jersey. His journey into the world of art began unexpectedly with a newspaper ad for a beginner’s sculpture class.
Those first steps grew Johnson’s career, and he eventually became famous worldwide for his life-like sculptures. His main purpose in his work was to strengthen communities through his art.
The “Art Imitates Life” Sculpture Tour features 13 life-size, and “living” bronze sculptures placed along the Ormond Beach Main Street District. These sculptures form a scavenger hunt throughout both public and private property in Ormond Beach. Some of the many statues you can find are a shopper, a family photo shoot, a window washer, a fishermen with a little boy, and even a postman making his rounds. Look out for benches, where you can find a reader or a lady rummaging through her purse.
https://cdn.firespring.com/images/b0a0f964-0abe-4432-ac22-c6ff8f879e50.jpg: Map of Ormond Sculptures. Photo by Mia Alexander.
Two of the sculptures from Johnson’s “Icons Revisited” series are on display at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum (OMAM). Near the museum’s waterfall, visitors will find “Can Do!,” a tribute to the iconic Rosie the Riveter figure, honoring the women who worked in factories during World War II. Inside OMAM’s Granada Pavilion Courtyard, the “Embracing Peace” sculpture captures the famous Times Square kiss on Victory over Japan Day on September 2, 1945.
Photo by Jennifer Alexander.
Photo by Jennifer Alexander.
The Ormond Beach Arts District has successfully raised over $50,000 from local sponsors to bring this impressive collection to the city for a six-month residency. Johnson’s sculptures have been displayed in public spaces worldwide, including Times Square, Palm Springs, Rome, Australia, and the Venice Film Festival. Now, Ormond Beach gets to join the admired list of locations that have showcased Johnson’s work.
Most of the sculptures featured in the tour belong to Johnson’s “Celebrating the Familiar” series, which portrays people engaging in everyday activities. Furthermore, the tour also includes a piece from his “Beyond the Frame” series, representing the famous artist Claude Monet painting on a canvas. From his perspective in Rockefeller Gardens, Monet is seen painting a landscape of the Granada Bridge.
Photo by Jennifer Alexander.
Johnson founded the Johnson Atelier, an institution, that even after his death in 2020, continues to instill his sculptures with his main focus, and that was the elements of everyday life.
Take your chance to experience the Seward Johnson “Art Imitates Life” Sculpture Tour, an event that brings art to the heart of Ormond Beach. The exhibit is a testament to the power of art in enriching our communities and celebrating the beauty of everyday life, it’s one you won’t want to miss.