sculpture locations?

[iowasculptor]

I am just wondering if any of you have some insight into cities or smaller towns which have a thriving sculpture scene. Do any of you have a recomendation for a location which would be a good place to start a Gallery/ studio which offers classes and studio space in all aspects of visual arts. My wife is interested in the gallery/ studio idea. I will be graduating with my MFA next May and we are kind of looking to see where we should settle. We aren't huge city fans but if it was feesable to live outside of the city and drive in that is what we would like to do. We also have 3 sons so it is important to us that they have good schools and such. Any help would be appreciated.
thanks
matt

[sculptor]

hi Matt
curious about the "Iowasculptor" moniker while you're in Carolina(?) and I'm in Iowa....

You're not intending to take the MFA and teach?

One of my Chicago based sculpting mentors was planning to move to North Carolina to retire and set up a sculpting school and gallery.

[sculptorsam]

I've heard some good things about N. Carolina as well though I have no first-hand experience. Very beautiful country out there.

[jwebb]

What is your work like? It would help in imagining a "good sculpture town" to have a better idea of what kind of sculpture. Joseph, Oregon is a great, very small town in the northeast corner of the state - very beautiful and isolated - in the Wallowa Mountains - that is jam-packed full of foundries and galleries and "western" artists doing bronzes. If that floats your boat it's a great site and it attracts a lucrative buying public. I don't dig that kind of sculpture myself, and would starve there in about a week. (Whereas I'm going on two weeks here).