- May 23, 2025
As the "Art Imitates Life" sculpture installation in town comes to a close, the Ormond Beach Arts District is inviting the community to take part in one last initiative: a photography contest, where winners in three categories will receive a $100 prize.
The deadline to submit an entry to the "Arts Imitates Life" Photography contest is May 10. The contest has three categories:
The winners will be announced during a party at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum. Tickets cost $85 per person and the event will feature actors from the Halifax Repertory Theater as living sculptures, as well as poetry readings and entries from a children's writing contest where they were prompted to write a story about the "Photo Shoot" sculpture outside of MainStreet Park at 34 W. Granada Blvd.
Submit entries online at bit.ly/artlife-2025.
Ormond Beach Arts District Vice President Judith Stein said the sculptures — 13 bronze statues by late American artist Seward Johnson — have been a "huge success" since they were installed in late November.
"Everybody loves them," Stein said. "Everybody wishes that they would stay forever, and we've just gotten overwhelming support and enthusiasm from the public, from the city who's helped us place many of the sculptures on public property, and from the people who have sponsored them."
Last year, the Arts District, which is a local nonprofit, raised over $50,000 thanks to its sponsors to bring the art installation to Ormond Beach.
Johnson’s sculptures have previously been displayed around the world, including Times Square, Palm Springs, Rome, Australia and the Venice Film Festival. The sculptures in Ormond Beach mainly came from his “Celebrating the Familiar” series, which features people doing everyday things — like the the window washer in front of Ocean Art Gallery and mailman in front of the post office on the beachside.
Stein said she's live in Ormond for almost 20 years and can't remember another event or project that has generated such interest as the sculptures. Each carries a QR code where people can leave comments in a survey, and the Arts District has received over 100 responses.
"Thank you for bringing this wonderful tour to our city!" one response read. "I have read about it but never thought I would have the opportunity to see it. Thank you all! Thought this was pretty spectacular. The workmanship was incredible."
Other responses came from visitors.
"Loved the statues! I'm here about 4-5 times a year. Every single time I saw one of the statues I thought it was real. Kudos Ormond!"
While the current sculptures are due to be returned to the Seward Johnson Atelier in New Jersey later this month, the community still has some time to view them. On May 19, 10 of the sculptures will be moved to The Casements parking lot, and three will be moved to the parking lot at 56 N. Beach St. The sculptures will remain there for about a week, Stein said.
"So people will have a chance to see them all together, which to me, is just so fun," she said.
The Arts District is hoping to bring a new sculpture installation by Johnson in January 2026. They are currently aiming to bring 17, and are looking for sponsors.
"This is going to be a whole new set of sculptures — all different than the ones that are here now, but equally fabulous," Stein said.
