Sculptures have been popping up throughout Howard County during August.

A flock of bright blue birds landed in front of the Robinson Nature Center. A yellow clown now stands at AIDA Bistro. And soon, a stack of orange slices will be in front of the North Laurel Community Center.

By September, there will be 12 sculptures in place around the county, selected as part of the county’s annual ARTsites program from 36 finalists.

Since 2012, the Howard County Arts Council has hosted ARTsites, a competition that places sculptures throughout the county for a year.

The event is important, according to Coleen West, executive director of the arts council, as a way to show the value of art to bring people together.

“In light of recent and national events, it is now more important than ever for us to think about the stories we want to tell, the traditions we want to preserve and what ideals — such as diversity and inclusion — we want to convey about our community,” said West in a statement.

The introduction of 12 new sculptures to the county promotes not only the arts council, but provides a way to introduce art to the public as they go about their lives, she said.

“The program provides us with an opportunity to bring public spaces to life in creative ways,” West said. “Whether folks encounter the work on a family trip ... or on their way to a meeting with public officials, ...we hope these sculptures inspire them to think about their public spaces, what makes our community special and what we want our community to be.”

Submissions were accepted in January; selections were made in May.

An ARTsites panel consisting of Andy Clay of the Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning; Julie Hughes-Jenkins, an arts council board member; Howard County Councilwoman Mary Kay Sigaty and West reviewed more than 50 submissions before narrowing the list to 36.

Representatives from the locations in which the pieces would be placed then selected the piece they wanted to host.

“There were two or three artists from Maryland, as well as Michigan, Florida, New York,” said Katie Wofford, gallery program coordinator.

The main restrictions for the sculptures, Wofford said, were that the works could not be deemed dangerous in any way to the public and needed to be able to withstand changing weather.

“The size, the medium and the subject matter is totally open,” Wofford said.

This is the first year Mark Chatterley, of Michigan, entered the competition.

Last month, he drove out to assist with the installation of “Birdzels,” a collection of blue-glazed clay birds that he describes as a cross between an emoji and anime.

The exhibit is now at Robinson Nature Center on Cedar Lane in Columbia, and will be a focal point for the center’s anniversary celebration on Sunday, Sept. 17.

“They’re on a little island of green,” Chatterley said, of the “Birdzels” exhibit. “With their bright blue glaze, they pop next to the green. It’s hard not to see them. It’s playful. It looks like they are just moving through.”

Every artist is given a stipend to help with the installation of their work. At the end of the year, another stipend is given to help with its removal, Wofford said.

“I’m honored to be included in the art show,” Chatterley said. “I hope people enjoy it.”

kvjones@baltsun.com