HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2017-05-04 LOVEwork sculpture dedication
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
May 4, 2017
Media Contact:
Betsy Arnett, Public Information Officer
barnett@leesburgva.gov 703-771-2734
LOVE Comes to Leesburg on May 20, 2017
New LOVEwork sculpture will be permanently installed on Harrison Street, near
the W&OD Trail.
Leesburg, VA (May 4, 2017) – On Saturday, May 20, 2017, at 9:00 a.m., Mayor Kelly Burk will
officially unveil the Town’s new LOVEwork sculpture. Part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s
state-wide LOVEworks program, the sculpture spells out the word “LOVE” in seven-foot high
letters made of used bicycle parts and steel channel. The sculpture will be installed
permanently on Harrison Street across from Raflo Park and just south of the W&OD Trail.
Created by local sculptor Mike Clay, the new LOVEwork is the result of a collaboration between
the Leesburg Commission on Public Art (COPA) and the Friends of Leesburg Public Arts (FOLPA)
and was funded in part by a $1,500 grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC).
“In order to qualify for the VTC grant, the LOVEwork sculpture had to be in a highly visible
location where it is safe for people to get close to the sculpture for photo ops,” explained
Thomas O’Neil, chair of COPA. “We wanted the sculpture to reflect something unique about
Leesburg. With the W&OD Trail running right through the heart of town, the bike theme
seemed like a great fit.”
“The LOVEwork sculpture truly has been a community project,” said Sue Stipek, FOLPA
president. “Leesburg Junction is very excited to have the new sculpture located in front of their
building and gave us a significant cash donation, as did Very Virginia. The Lansdowne
Development Group installed the concrete footing, Bowman Consulting surveyed the footing
site, and Mike Stansbury provided structural engineering services. Broad Run Excavating
transported the sculpture from the artist’s home to Manassas for powder coating and then to
Leesburg for installation. American Stripping gave us a significant discount on the powder
coating. The used bicycle parts were donated by Plum Grove (Re)Cyclery, Velo Classique and
Lincoln Smithy. The project would not have been possible without these donations of materials,
time and talents.”
As part of the sculpture dedication, Plum Grove (Re)Cyclery is raffling off two bicycles, a
Cannondale Women’s Quick 6 and a Cannondale Trail 24 Youth. Raffle tickets are $20 each and
proceeds will benefit FOLPA and Mobile Hope of Loudoun. Tickets are available until June 1,
2017, and can be purchased online at www.plumgrovecyclery.com. T-shirts featuring the LOVE
sculpture design are also available for $25 each.
FOLPA is seeking continued donations to fund the installation of lighting for the sculpture and
other public art projects. Visit www.leesburgpublicarts.org for more information.
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