Lining the path between Cal Lutheran’s William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art and the  Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture are a series of monumental bronze sculptures by celebrated artist Richard MacDonald.

Running from Nov. 1- Dec. 15, the  Sculpture Walk  features a dozen sculptures ranging from 3-12 feet tall.  An additional two sculptures can be viewed in the “Transmission: Secrets of the Studio” exhibit in the Rolland Gallery Oct. 30-Jan. 21.

The “Sculpture Walk”  was organized alongside The Representational Art Conference 2015, which is  held Nov. 1-4 at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach according to the Cal Lutheran website. MacDonald is the keynote speaker at this event which is also planned and sponsored by Cal Lutheran.  Art Professor Michael Pearce coordinated MacDonald’s role as a keynote speaker as well as his outdoor exhibit.

“Richard had heard about the conference and he had read my book so he called me up and said ‘Would you mind coming up and visiting me in Monterey at my studio?’ and so of course I said definitely because Richard is just a giant success. He’s the Rodan of the 21st century,” Pearce said.

After Pearce went to Monterey and toured MacDonald’s gallery there, the plans began to take shape.

“We invited him to be one of the keynote speakers and then to our surprise he offered to bring some sculptures down,” Pearce said. “It occurred to me that Richard makes these giant and fabulous pieces.”

Ten of MacDonald’s sculptures are displayed outside in order for them to have the potential to interact with nature in a unique way.

“The sculpture works within the environment which is a very different feeling than if they’re in a room.  Richard’s sculptures are so fluid and sensual that it’s going to work well with the Cal Lu campus when we place them out in the park along that walkway because it’s going to be very much in rhythm with nature,” Pearce said.

In addition to viewing the sculptures in person, it can be accessed  on an interactive mobile virtual tour.

The mobile tour will provide information on each of the sculptures,  including videos on MacDonald’s creative process and  a timeline of his career. MacDonald’s marketing director, Mel  Ahlborn played a role in creating these guides.

“There is an interactive guide that has been created so each piece will have a sign and the sign will have a QR code that can be scanned that will take them to video and audio resources that will give them more information about the work,” Ahlborn said.  “This is so people might see their connection to this work and its relevance in their lives today. We hope that anyone viewing the work, especially students and the casual observer will stop and enjoy and drink in the beauty and perhaps even learn a little something.”

In his career, MacDonald has created sculptures for the 1996 Summer Olympics, the U.S. Open golf championship, The Royal Ballet School, Cirque du Soleil and the National Art Museum of Sport, according to callutheran.edu. 

“I believe that beauty connects people and lifts their spirits to a higher level. I have dedicated my career to making a difference by creating passionate and important works of art that enrich the lives of others,” MacDonald said.

Pearce said MacDonald has been an inspiration because he is such a dynamic person.

“He’s very sincere in what he’s doing and he wants to make the world a better place. And if he can do that through making sculptures, he’s darn well going to do it,” Pearce said. “I’ve seen people cry in front of his sculptures. They’re so touched and moved by the way he somehow offers the inner heart of mankind inside these sculptures.”