Concert kicks off Ukrainian sculpture fundraiser

The Sculpture Park Committee of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) kicked off a fundraising effort to purchase "Kore That Awakening," a sculpture on loan from Ukrainian artist Egor Zigura. The committee is made up of Anne Postle, Lisa Rivard, and Jill Whitener.

The effort coincided with the resumption of First Friday Art Walks on April 1, and featured a concert in the park by the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band. The crowd, estimated at around 100 people, had an opportunity to donate towards the purchase of the sculpture, and many took advantage of it.

The NCAA announced that an anonymous donor had offered to match up to $10,000 in community contributions. "We took in $2,240," committee member Jill Whitener reported adding, "I think that's pretty good for a couple of hours."

Donations of over $2,000 had been collected prior to the event, and online donations of $360 were received shortly after the event. The cost of the statue is $25,000.00.

Every year, artists respond to a call for submissions issued by the committee in hopes of having their work displayed at the park for up to 12 months. The art is available for purchase during that time, and the NCAA has already acquired two sculptures in the park.

This year, the committee delayed the contest and decided to launch a campaign to purchase a sculpture from Ukrainian artist Egor Zigura, which has been on display at the park since February 2020 due to the pandemic. Zigura had to flee his country with his family when Russia invaded Ukraine.

According to the Saatchi Art website, the statue, "Kore That Awakening," is part of a diptych, composed of a male and a female figure, created in 2016. The male figure has been sold, but the female figure has remained for sale in Niwot, until now.

Zigura reworked Kore, a Greek type of sculpture of the Archaic period, depicting a female figure. According to the website, it is meant to represent the human spirit smothered by consumerist culture, as humanity trades its freedom and individuality for materialism.

On the night of the event, florist Sarah Cioni of Belle Terre donated and arranged two bouquets of blue and yellow flowers around the base of the statue to help fundraising efforts. The band performed as well, playing the Ukrainian National Anthem and popular songs such as, "Get Back" by the Beatles, "Beat It" by Michael Jackson, and "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister.

Donations toward the purchase of the sculpture can be made to the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA), PO Box 733, Niwot, CO 80544-0733 or online at http://www.niwotarts.org. Donors should indicate in the notes that the donation is for "Awakening."