Civic park sculptures to have grand opening

The sculptures have been going up one by one in Newport Beach’s Civic Center Park, and Saturday afternoon, residents will get to enjoy the full effect — or 90% of it, at least — for the first time.

The city will host a grand opening for the Sculpture Exhibition, a collection of 10 artworks that were chosen from 260 submissions by a six-member jury panel. Nine of the 10 pieces will be on display Saturday; Jonathan Prince’s “Red” is undergoing some repairs and won’t be installed until 2015.

The other sculptures are “Big Wet Dog” by Matt Babcock, “Brandi” by Curt Brill, “Cub Triptych” by Gerardo Hacer, “Double Doily” by Jennifer Cecere, “Odyssey” by Ray Katz, “Pretty Boy” by David Buckingham, “Red Gateway” by Chris Rench, “Sphere 112” by Ivan McLean and “Wintering” by Arny Nadler. The installation is scheduled to stay on view through August 2016.

The opening, which lasts from 2 to 5 p.m., includes walking tours of the exhibition and art activities in the park coordinated by the Orange County Museum of Art, according to a news release.

Members of the Newport Beach Arts Commission and City Council will make a presentation at 3 p.m., and a reception in the community room will follow.

—Michael Miller