Celebrated Carmel-based sculptor Steven Whyte will return to the Carmel Art Festival’s Sculpture in the Park in an exciting live public art event.  Making his fourth appearance, Whyte will move elements of his Dolores Street studio to a stage in Carmel’s, Devendorff Park for the duration of the festival which runs from Thursday, May 14th, through Sunday, May 17th.

Beginning with only a basic armature, or base, Whyte and his studio team will sculpt an over life size figure of an iconographic personality in history.  In previous years the sculpture event has been a highlight of Sculpture in the Park, as hundreds of festival attendees repeatedly visited Whyte to check on the status of the sculpture and to discuss the project with the artist.  Previous subjects have included Bob Hope, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and last year’s extremely popular Abraham Lincoln.  The subject of this year’s sculpture will not be announced, Whyte explains that he hopes visitors will attend the festival and watch the figure take shape and recognize the personality. 

Whyte, who operates an open studio and gallery in Su Vecino Courtyard on Dolores Street, is known for his approachable demeanor and desire to educate art lovers and the general public about the process behind the creation of fine art sculpture.  “My work is my passion,” he says, “who wouldn’t want to talk about work they are excited about?”

Originally from England, Whyte is a noted figurative sculptor and is credited with eleven over-life size public monuments in his native England and the United States.  These include the Dr. John Roberts Memorial located outside Seaside City Hall, the National Tribute to Bob Hope and Our Nation’s Military in San Diego, and the Column of Knowledge featuring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for Fontana, California.  This spring, Whyte will unveil two new monuments:  a monument of Martin Luther King, Jr. for Hollywood, Florida and a life size relief of St. Anthony and the young Christ child that will be installed at the Carmel Mission.

A past vice president of the prestigious, London-based Royal Society of Portrait Sculptors, Whyte relocated to the Monterey Peninsula in 2003 and has since been voted best local artist by residents of Monterey County several times.  In the summer of 2007, Whyte, moved his popular Cannery Row studio and gallery to Carmel.  He later expanded the gallery to include Wellington’s Fine Art Sculpture, a more formal sculpture gallery named in honor of Whyte’s English Bulldog Lord Wellington.  In March of 2009, Whyte’s gallery was voted Best Sculpture Gallery by the readers of the Monterey County Weekly.

“The Carmel Art Festival is one of my favorite events of the year,” Whyte remarked.  He explains, “it gives me a chance to sculpt for four straight days and to meet a wonderful mix of collectors and art lovers from throughout the community and the nation.  To be able to do both things, outside in beautiful Carmel makes the experience even more magic.”