HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL NR 2021-07-02 Public Art Design Awards
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
Friday, July 2, 2021
Media Contact:
Betsy Arnett, Public Information Officer
barnett@leesburgva.gov 703-771-2734
Two Public Art Installations in Leesburg Receive 2021
Signatures of Loudoun Design Excellence Awards
Leesburg, VA (July 2, 2021) – At Tuesday’s
virtual Signatures of Loudoun Design
Excellence Awards ceremony, the Loudoun
County Design Cabinet honored two of
Leesburg’s public art installations.
“We are so pleased to have both the
LOVEwork sculpture and the Stanley
Caulkins statue receive these awards for
their contributions to Leesburg’s and
Loudoun’s unique character,” said Leesburg
Mayor Kelly Burk, who accepted the awards
on behalf of the town. “The Leesburg
Commission on Public Art deserves a
tremendous amount of recognition for their
hard work in developing our robust public
art program and making installations like
these a reality.”
The LOVEwork sculpture, located at the
corner of Harrison Street and the W&OD
Trail, was honored in the “Details” category.
Installed in May 2017, the sculpture is part
of Virginia Tourism’s “Virginia is for Lovers”
campaign. Created by local sculptor Michael Clay, Leesburg’s LOVEwork is fabricated from
bicycle parts, including a bicycle wheel that forms the “O”, highlighting its connection to the
W&OD Trail. The LOVEwork is often used as a photo backdrop for marriage proposals, family
visits, and other events.
The statue of the late Stanley Caulkins, located on South King Street in the historic downtown,
was recognized in the “Familiar Details” category. Installed in July 2019 and created by local
sculptor Jeff Hall, the life-size statue of Stanley, sitting on a bench outside the building that
housed Caulkins Jewelers for over 60 years, is a fitting memorial to the man who contributed so
much to the Town of Leesburg.
"This is such an honor to have two wonderful additions to the Arts & Cultural District rece iving
this award,” commented Donna Torraca, chair of Leesburg’s Commission on Public Art. “Both of
these projects required a team of individuals and organizations to raise money and work
with the Commission on Public Art and the Friends of Leesburg Public Arts to make these
installations a reality. We are absolutely delighted that both the town and the artists are
being recognized with this award."
Torraca continued, “Huge thanks go to Plum Grove (Re)Cyclery and Lansdowne Development
Corporation, who were major contributions to the LOVEworks, and to Diane and Mike Canney,
the Caulkins family, Larkin Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, the Leesburg
Airport Commission, the Leesburg Rotary Club, the Honorable Joe and Bobby May, David and
Ann Moyes, and Toth Financial Advisory Group, for their assistance with the Stanley Caulkins
statue.”
The annual Signatures of Loudoun Design Excellence Awards recognize quality design projects
throughout the county that visually enhance and reinforce Loudoun County’s identity.
# # #