The buzz on Tucson sculpture festival

His benches, standalone pieces and wall art - made from recycled wood and steel - not only decorate gardens, but also serve as habitats for native female bees.

"You don't have to worry about being near them," he said, describing the bees as passive and great pollinators.

Corman's art was a hit when the Tucson Sculpture Festival debuted last year, and he plans on causing a buzz again with his habitats.

The festival, now in its second year, starts Friday with new venues and a longer run. Everything still takes place in a walkable one-block radius in the downtown arts warehouse district.

Works include a wide range of sculptures, ranging from a classical Romanesque style to others that make you rethink the word "sculpture" - such as art that moves and is made out of found objects, and musical instruments that don't exist anywhere else.

Daniel Wolverton, the festival director, said last year's success prompted organizers to double to two weeks from one.

"Everybody was very pleased. People sold quite a bit of work, and there were several commissioned pieces that resulted from it, too," Wolverton said.

Although Wolverton is not a sculptor, he said he has a great appreciation for the form from being part of the arts community as a non-acoustic musician and a performance artist with Parasol Project.

Parasol Project is a network of collaborating artists that is putting on the festival along with the Sculpture Resource Center.

Wolverton estimated that last year's opening night drew more than 250 people.

About 60 artists are expected this year, with 350 to 400 sculptures. All of the pieces will be for sale and range from $35 to $15,000.

Corman's art is ever changing because of the bees that come and go.

They are attracted to tunnels he drills into his creations, which the bees line with leaves and fill up with eggs, nectar and pollen. They then seal it up and they hatch about a year later.

"You can see them chewing their way out," said Corman, who also owns Gardening Insights, a landscape-design company.

IF YOU GO

• What: Second Annual Tucson Sculpture Festival

• When: Friday through Feb. 20.

• More info: 437-7716.

• The Sculpture Resource Center, 640 N. Stone. 1-9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. As the show's main venue, the center will exhibit a little bit of everything, including stone, metal, wood and ceramic sculptures.

• Studio 108, 108 W. Fifth St. 1-7 p.m. Fridays-Sundays. New to the festival this year, this studio is located in a 100-year-old chapel that was restored by Susan K. Johnson - the artist known for starting the All Souls Procession. It will mostly feature ceramic and classical figures.

• Solar Culture, 31 E. Toole Ave. 1-7 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays. Also new to the festival, this concert venue and arts gallery will display wood, mixed-media pieces and some wall-hung art.

• Mat Bevel Museum of Kinetic Art, 530 N. Stone Ave. 5-11 p.m. Friday and Feb 18. This museum features Ned Schaper's, aka Mat Bevel's, kinetic art, which moves and is made of found objects.

Opening Celebration

• Where: Sculpture Resource Center

• When: 5 p.m. Friday.

• Donation: $3-$5.

• Details: Gypsy-jazz and folk-tune fusions by the Missing Parts. Also, music with Anarchestra, which features unique metal-sculpture instruments that the public will also be allowed to play. Parasol Project will do a theatrical performance about sculptures that come to life. And The Fiestacles, a samba and hip-hip marching band ensemble, will lead the public on a parade tour of the different venues participating in the festival.

Finale Performance

• Where: Solar Culture Gallery

• When: 7 p.m. Feb. 18.

• Cost: $10

• Details: This sculpture-themed gala will include Punch and Bang!!! - a team of a side-show magician and an aerial silk dancer. There's also juggling and acrobatics by the Wonder Fools, and Parasol Project returns with its sculpture-themed show. Puppets Amongus will perform, and Flight School will feature acro-yoga, a mixture between yoga and dance, along with music by DJ Carl Hanni.