Arkansas State University-Mountain Home and City of Mountain Home Unveil First Installation of ASUMH/City of Mountain Home Art Walk
OCTOBER 12, 2023
MOUNTAIN HOME — Arkansas State University-Mountain Home (ASUMH) and the City of
Mountain Home will unveil the first art piece of the ASUMH/City of Mountain Home Art Walk on
Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. on ASUMH’s campus.
“ASUMH is very pleased to once again be partnering with the City of Mountain Home to expand
access to art and leisure activities for residents and visitors to our area,” said Dr. Bentley
Wallace, ASUMH Chancellor. “This first sculpture, along with long-term plans for expanding the
Art Walk, will offer health, education, and economic development opportunities well into the
future.”
The abstract art piece is made from corten metal with stainless steel accents. An anonymous
donor made the collection of this piece possible for ASUMH and inspired the beginning of the
Art Walk. The piece will stand at the intersection of the Sheid-Hopper Bypass and College
Street on ASUMH’s campus.
The sculpture was crafted by metal artist and potter Patrick Shannon of Forest Edge Gallery,
which is owned and operated by Shannon and painter and jewelry-maker Helena Johnson near
Vergas, Minnesota. In addition to Shannon and Johnson’s work, the gallery features artwork
including metalwork, paintings, pottery, fused and hand-blown glass, jewelry, sculpture and
more from artists across the United States.
“It has been a privilege to work with the committee to unveil our initial sculpture,” said Dr. Kathy
Loyd, Chair of the Art Walk committee. “The goal is to add other sculptures as the walking path
expands.”
The ASUMH/City of Mountain Home Art Walk is a collaboration between the college and city to
curate art that blends with nature and foster community in the Twin Lakes area. The three-mile
recreational trail stretches across the ASUMH and Donald W. Reynolds Library Serving Baxter
County campuses with a connection of the college and city paths underneath the Sheid-Hopper
Bypass. The trail extension was planned and built by the City of Mountain Home’s Parks and
Recreation and Street departments.
Future enhancements will take place on both the college and city sides of the trail. A grant from
the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) will allow for solar lights to be installed
along the path once an architect designs the landscape, which will feature botanical gardens.
“As the completion of the connection between the ASUMH Trail and the one in McCabe Park
draws closer under Highway 412, it is exciting to see plans for the trail continue to grow with the
addition of the Art Walk and gardens,” said Hillrey Adams, Mayor of Mountain Home. “I have no
doubt that community support for this trail will make it something for all to enjoy and draw
visitors from outside our area to experience.”
In addition to future artwork and gardens, the ASUMH/City of Mountain Home Art Walk currently
hosts the StoryWalk, a 1,600-foot area with 16 reading stations created in partnership with the
Donald W. Reynolds Library.
"Since arriving on the campus of ASUMH, I've had the privilege of working with generous
community donors, inspiring city leaders, and progressive ASUMH leaders,” said Mollie Morgan,
ASUMH Director of Development. “Working on the Art Walk reminds me how wonderful our
community is as we support each other to create special events for our area."
The public is invited to attend the unveiling. Parking will be available at the Donald W. Reynolds
Library and at the lower parking lots of the ASUMH campus. Shuttles courtesy of the City of
Mountain Home will transport guests to the ceremony.
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CONTACT: Mollie Morgan, ASUMH Director of Development (mmorgan@asumh.edu or
870-508-6191)
