Public Art Projects Links

Public art project are financed with contribution from sponsors and individuals. The board of the Festival of Arts hopes you appreciate the quality of the art in our collection and the public art pieces.

About the Artist

James N. Muir

James N. Muir was born in Indianapolis, Indiana 1945. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point for one and a half years and completed his B.S. Degree at Indiana University in 1970, while also having served six years in both the U.S. Army and Air Force. His professional art career as a sculptor began in Sedona, Arizona 1980 where he has continued to be a full-time professional artist for the past three decades. He has completed over 100 sculptures to date, with over 60 lifesize monumental sculptures placed in public locations across the country and abroad.

Allegorical Art is a term Muir uses to describe his art as being filled with symbolic meaning. Bridging the centuries from his historical military subjects to today's social, political and spiritual commentary, his sculptures speak eloquently of Duty, Honor, Courage, and Justice, but above all, of Truth and the ultimate triumph of the Human Spirit. He has built upon the recognition gained initially as an historical military sculptor to create an ever-expanding array of artistic commentary exemplifying the highest qualities of man.

Visit James Muir’s website.

Cornerstones of Freedom

by James N. Muir

Cornerstones of Freedom was the Festival’s 4th public art project. It was exhibited at the 2001 National Western Art Exhibition and Sale. Artist James Muir was an exhibiting artist that year attending his first show in San Dimas. His piece, They Served Well, was selected as the Festival Choice. It is a maquette of the 11-foot monument at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Memorial in Phoenix, Arizona. At the end of the show, Ms. Muir approached the Festival and suggested Cornerstones as a public art piece. Her offer was one the Festival could not refuse, and the Festival Board approved the project. Tragically and ironically, just weeks after the Board approval our country was attacked on September 11, 2001.

Cornerstones of Freedom was dedicated during our 2002 National Western Art Exhibition and Sale. James Muir attended and spoke at the ceremony, and, although not in the Exhibition that year, he provided a wonderful seminar on his public art throughout the country.

The San Dimas Festival of arts is grateful to the City of San Dimas for both the beautiful installation and the native landscape, making for a spectacular presentation, particularly at night with a light shining on the twin figures of Lady Liberty and Lady Justice.