Hemphill Smith Art Foundation near goal for West Central sculpture as ground broken
Journal Gazette
By Corey McMaken
A local art foundation said Wednesday it is near its fundraising goal for a sculpture honoring the legacy of late local artist Jody Hemphill Smith.
The Hemphill Smith Art Foundation has raised $250,000 and is looking to raise about $30,000 more for the project, foundation member Max Meyer said after ground was broken for the sculpture’s installation in the West Central Neighborhood.
Local sculptor Cary Shafer’s “Amaryllis” is inspired by the work of Hemphill Smith, an art educator and painter who operated Castle Gallery in West Central. She died in October 2023 at age 78, and the gallery she co-owned with husband Mark Paul Smith closed last year.