More than 100 people gathered at Benson Sculpture Garden on Saturday to dedicate two new sculptures, making 189 total in the Loveland park.
Loveland residents Alice and Dave Connor check out one of the newest sculptures in Benson Sculpture Garden, St. Patrick by artists Elijah Nugent and Jack Kreutzer. St. Patrick and another sculpture, Ridge Runners, were dedicated in the park on Saturday. There are now 189 pieces in the sculpture park. (Pamela Johnson / Loveland Reporter-Herald)
“We walk this park all the time,” said resident Alice Conner, who was at the dedication with her husband, Dave. “It’s amazing.”
Each year, the High Plains Arts Council dedicates new pieces in the collection, all purchased with the proceeds from the renowned Sculpture in the Park show, which this year will be Aug. 8-10.
The newest piece, Ridge Runners by Amanda Markel, was installed on Friday and dedicated Saturday. It depicts three wolves, showing their connection to each other and to the mountains.
“This piece is about community,” said Markel, who grew up in Colorado and now lives in Montana. “It’s a pack of wolves. It’s about leaning on each other.”
Loveland resident Amy McReynolds said that Markel’s work speaks to her and her family. They own one of her single wolf sculptures, a piece that Markel built upon for Ridge Runners.
McReynolds also mentioned another wolf piece called Resilience, saying Markel’s work struck a chord with her when her family was going through challenges.
Sculptor Amanda Markel talks about her piece, Ridge Runners, which was installed in the south section of Benson Sculpture Gardens on Friday and was dedicated on Saturday. Markel lives in Montana. (Pamela Johnson / Loveland Reporter-Herald)
“He was a preemie,” she said of her 6-year-old son, Greyson. “We always called him our little grey wolf … This is awesome, and it’s got such an impact and level of energy, especially for my family. It’s just so special.”
The second sculpture dedicated was a statue of St. Patrick by Loveland artists Jack Kreutzer and Elijah Nugent. The men worked together, looking at the history of St. Patrick for inspiration, to create a life-sized statue with layers of meaning.
St. Patrick is placed near the water in Benson Sculpture Garden, 2908 Aspen Drive, which has become home to an array of sculptures since it was established in 1985. In 2015, the sculpture park expanded across 29th Street into North Lake Park, which is where Ridge Runners is placed.
The mission of the council, to continue to host the show and add art to the collection, will continue as longtime High Plains Arts Council member Greg Hoff put it, “The way we’re going now, I see no reason to stop.”
Ridge Runners by Amanda Markel was one of two new sculptures dedicated at Benson Sculpture Garden on Saturday. (Pamela Johnson / Loveland Reporter-Herald)
Originally Published: July 26, 2025 at 12:24 PM MDT