By Marilyn Bauer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati was called the "new art Mecca" when the Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art opened in May. Now the Queen City has been designated the first International Sculpture City by the International Sculpture Center, a 43-year-old, nonprofit organization with 7,000 members and in 70 countries.

MEET LOCAL SCULPTORS

• Carissa Barnard • Jayoon Choi • Christopher Scott Daniel • Richard Fruth • Zachary F. Herrmann • Mike Jacobs • Louis Larson (Unit 2) • Matt Lynch • Kirk Mayhew • Martin Meersman • Dave Rohs • Paige Wideman • Steve Zieverink (Unit 2)

Mary Catherine Johnson, the center's acting executive director, visited SSNOVA, a gallery in Brighton; Pyramid Hill, the 265-acre sculpture park in Hamilton; and Mac's Farm and Sculpture Center in Blue Ash. She met with local sculptors who talked about their passion for making art.

"I was so impressed by the energy and quality of what is going on," Johnson says. "We want to spotlight Cincinnati on our Web site (www.sculpture.org) and in our magazine (Sculpture)."

Who are these emerging artists? Here are some of the young sculptors living and working in Cincinnati.