Panel Backs 2 Works for Civic Arts Plaza

The works of a Los Angeles sculptor and a Russian painter will grace the Civic Arts Plaza complex over the next year, with the approval of the City Council, which accepted the Thousand Oaks Arts Commission’s recommendations at its last meeting.

The painting, “Duet” by Vadim Kurov, is one of 148 pieces recently displayed at the Fred Kavli Theatre. Kavli purchased the $10,300 painting of a jester performing for a dancer and donated it to the city.

The sculpture, a 48-foot work in bronze depicting three running horses, has been commissioned from sculptor David Huenergardt. “Running Free” will weigh more than 7 tons when finished and will cost local sponsors about $500,000.

“It’s what I feel about the American way of life and the freedom that we have in this country,” Huenergardt said of his sculpture, which will take between nine months and a year to complete. “It’s really a patriotic piece, using horses. To me, the horse is the most free-spirited of our animals.”

Completion of the project is contingent on the Alliance for the Arts locating sponsors for two of the horses, which cost about $250,000 each, said Huenergardt. The artist will find a third sponsor himself, he said.