[CLINTON, N.C.] – In Spring 2023, partners Sampson Community College (SCC), the SCC Foundation, City of Clinton, and Sampson Arts Council agreed to install a community-selected, public art sculpture pad in SCC’s Sampson East Park. Scheduled to be interchanged yearly, the current work Waterdrop by Hanna Jubran will bid farewell in August as community vote opens to replace the display piece off Hwy 24.

A call for artists was issued in February, and the Public Art Initiative Committee narrowed the choices to three sculptures designed by Benton & Sons Fabrication, Jim Gallucci, and Hanna Jubran to be put to a public vote, running through May 3, 2024.

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Steel Butterfly (14′ tall) by Benton & Sons is one of the finely crafted steel lawn sculptures in their collection.

Benton & Sons Fabrication is a family-owned business that has operated in large component steel fabrication and assembly since 1983. Located in Pikeville, N.C., they also specialize in lawn art, ornaments, and sculptures— famous in their area for their line of “Benton Dinosaurs.” Their creation, Steel Butterfly is up for public vote.

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Digital Gate II (14’x6’x2′) by Jim Gallucci highlights the computing age with bytes of information coming and going.

For over forty years, Jim Gallucci has created sculpture pieces that have been exhibited throughout the U.S. and internationally. A graduate of Syracuse University with a M.F.A. in Sculpture, Gallucci has completed over 50 public art commissions, priding himself on his design of benches and gateways. His creation, Digital Gate II is up for public vot

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Midsummer (17’x10’x6′) by Hanna Jubran is a sculpture created to identify the moment of celebration in nature.

Born in Israel, Hanna Jubran currently works as a Sculpture Professor and Sculpture Area Coordinator at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. Yielding a M.F.A. in Sculpture from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Jubran regularly participates in international art shows, addressing the concepts of time, movement, balance and space in his creations. His creation, Midsummer is up for public vote.

Voting is open until May 3, 2024. Installment of the selected piece will begin in August. To help select the next public art piece in Sampson East Park, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J6T7KHP

About Sampson Community College:  Sampson Community College is a member of the North Carolina Community College System, located in Clinton, NC in Sampson County. The college offers many programs to include two-year degrees, college transfer, continuing education and workforce development options and early college education. SCC is committed to the principles of equal educational and employment opportunities for all.