Sculpture Favorites
I first became aware of the amazing and beautiful sculpture creations of Glenna Goodacre on a visit to Santa Fe some years ago. One afternoon on a visit to the Nedra Matteucci Gallery, I saw a rickety old door with a sign posted that said sculpture garden. At the time, it was not so clearly marked that one felt invited to step out of the main gallery. Mind you, the indoor gallery had a sculpture or two in nearly every room along with paintings. Stepping through the door, I felt like a school kid going to some forbidden place. But oh am I so glad I opened that door.
Immediately upon walking out into the back yard space, I spotted a massive bronze bear sculpture. When I say massive, this sculpture creation was at least 8 feet tall. It took my breath away with it's realism! And I was just getting started. There was no sidewalk only beautiful vivid green grass and small lake that served as a backdrop to feature one sculpture after another. There were also some huge trees and a variety of evergreens and willows planted to allow a variety of sculpture settings.
This sculpture garden has mainly bronze works in a variety of colors. There are birds, elephants, and even headstones that mimic actually stone in color despite them being a bronze sculpture. Then there are some of my all time favorites -- mostly works by Glenna Goodacre of children being read to or in a tree house. What a delight! As my own children have grown up, we make it a point to visit this sculpture garden every time we're in Santa Fe, which was just a few months ago when they all flew in to surprise me for my birthday.
Sculpture Creativity
I think one of the many things I love about Goodacre's work is the simple themes yet intricate detail in her sculpture. Each seems to capture a moment in time that speaks volumes. Her creativity is clearly evidenced when all my crew stands viewing and discussing one of her sculpture works of art. Each of us sees something a little different, regales a thought about where this sculpture takes us in our mind's eye, and then highlights what it makes us hope or dream about.
Ironically, one of my children decided to create sculpture of his own. I always knew he had an artistic bent. One day he brought home from school a sculpture he had been working on. I was blown away by his creative genius. Over the years we had become regular guests at The Palm restaurant which is renowned for their huge lobsters. This sculpture was in clay and pictured several lobsters on a platter in perfect color!
Appreciating Sculpture
Another thing that I find fascinating about sculpture is how I might absolutely adore a piece and one of my family or friends doesn't much care for it and vice-versa. They do say this diversity and variety in tastes is what makes the world go round. I am just so glad I walked through that door all those years ago. Until then I was not really much aware of sculpture. Now, it's something I notice and go out of my way to see as often as I can. I even have managed to collect a few pieces of my own.
What I find so delightful, too, is that sculpture is popping up in all sorts of places. My favorite grocery store just installed a life size bronze sculpture of a police officer writing a ticket that is so realistic it's scary. I love it!
Kinetic sculpture at the BMW Museum (audio swap)
If you haven't yet, let me encourage you to open your eyes and awareness to the beauty found in sculpture.