Sculpture in the Wild to be showcased in 'Destination Art' next year

A new book by Dr. Amy Dempsey, entitled Destination Art is set to showcase Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild as one of only about 200 worldwide art destinations.

This is the second edition of the book Destination Art published by Thames & Hudson and is due out April 2021. It will be the first time BPSW has been featured in a book.

Kevin O'Dwyer, artistic director and curator of BPSW, had a previous project called Sculpture in the Parklands included in the first edition of Destination Art.

"Amy has followed my career as a director/curator and contacted me when the publishers Thames and Hudson decided to do a second edition of the book. She was excited with the sculpture park, it's forest setting and the sculpture installations on site," wrote O'Dwyer in an email. "We are unique in the United States as we invite artists to work on site and create artworks that respond to the environmental and industrial heritage of the Blackfoot Valley. All our artwork is made on site using the natural and industrial materials found within the community."

"Amy was very interested in how the artists responded to the rich environmental and cultural heritage of the Blackfoot Valley to create unique contemporary works of art in a beautiful forest landscape. The high calibre of the artists selected and the artwork they produced was also an important criteria of our sculpture park being included in the book," O'Dwyer wrote.

O'Dwyer expects the book will encourage new visitors to Lincoln and BPSW. "BPSW is the only Montana location selected. Our inclusion will definitely attract art enthusiasts who are touring Montana and the Northwest. It is an important publication that has a long shelf life so will be dipped into when lovers of art travel. This is the handbook for art lovers who want to explore unique locations off the beaten path/grid as well as well established art destinations in urban settings.  Destination Art remains the only illustrated guide to modern and contemporary art sites outside the confines of museums and galleries."

BPSW will likely have three to four images included as part of the publication. "BPSW has been selected for the publication based on the quality of the artist, artwork and the unique story that the sculpture park tells. It is quite an honour to be included in the book considering all the art destinations throughout the world," wrote O'Dwyer.

Despite the cancellation of the events for BPSW this year due to COVID, the park is on track to reach 50,000 visitors for 2020. "I'm missing Lincoln this year but look forward to next year's program. We have some wonderful artists coming in 2021, including Montana Native American artist Bentley Spang," wrote O'Dwyer. "Big thank you to all my Board members, donors and volunteers who have been working in the park this past summer. Thank you Lincoln and all the community members who came on board from the initial idea and worked hard to make Lincoln an Art Destination."