Deadline approaches to vote for favorite sculpture

Deadline approaches to vote for favorite sculpture[Grand Island, NE] Voters have until Wednesday, December 31 to vote for their favorite sculpture in Sculpture Walk Railside.

With mild weather in the forecast, now is the perfect time to take a walk or drive through Railside to see all 13 temporary sculptures. Maps are available at Grand Island Tourism either inside or in the outdoor literature racks at Locust and 3rd Street. They may also be found on the Railside website at arriverailside.com/sculpturewalk. 

To vote, you’re encouraged to drop off your choice at the tourism office, including your email to ensure only one vote per email. Voting is also possible through the Railside website.

The top sculpture’s artist will receive a monetary prize. Last year’s honor went to Alex Shaw for his metal sculpture “Sandhill Crane,” which was then purchased by a local corporation.

“The 2025-2026 sculpture walk artists are from as far away as Maryland and Washington state," coordinator Dana Jelinek said. “Each piece is unique and was selected for the exhibit in December of last year.”

Sculpture Walk Railside is sponsored by community members and businesses interested in art.

Grand Island is one of eight towns that participate in Sculpture Walk Across Nebraska, which is a collaborative effort to bring art to walkable downtown districts. Each community picks from more than 100 submissions, contracts with selected artists, and displays the pieces for one year. All sculptures are for sale and have a QR code that may be scanned for an audio clip about the sculptures.

Last year, two sculptures were purchased from Sculpture Walk Railside. Part of the purchase price is then retained by Sculpture Walk Railside to cover ongoing expenses.

“With the sale of sculptures and the prize for favorite sculpture, it makes it enticing for artists from across the country to bring their art to Grand Island,” Jelinek said.

Sculptures, now on display, will leave in April, with 14 new sculptures being installed early in May.

For more information on Sculpture Walk Railside or how to place your vote, contact Dana Jelinek at (308) 382-4400 or [email protected].