Thursday, April 8, 2010

Sculpture Garden

Last weekend I took a walk through the downtown Des Moines sculpture garden. The city cleaned out several dilapidated buildings and made a large green space next to the new library. Then a wealthy couple gave the Des Moines Art Center many sculptures.



I stepped inside one work and could the downtown through a maze of letters.



This is what the work looks like when you step back a ways.



Who couldn't resist these guys?



This woman looked like she was stepping into a bath tub. Sort of. Probably not what the artist had in mind but that is what it looked like to me.



This reminded of The Legend of Sleep Hollow. Is that the one with the headless horseman?



This horse was interesting. (I added this after I put up the original post.)



Here's another view. I can't imagine how the artist put this together!



This reminds me of something I have in my basement.



Think I'll keep my distance from this fella! Whoa!



This guy is interesting. He is obviously thinking about something pretty hard.



What great features!



These two snowmen looking works are actually very large.



I think I have something like this behind my barn!



But I liked this guy



and this guy the best. Does that say something about me? Heh!


Thanks for stopping by!

13 comments:

Hilary said...

What a cool place. They certainly have an eclectic and interesting collection of sculptures. I love the one constructed from letter. Are there actual words or is it a collections of random letters? I think my favourite one would be the faux Rodin's The Think-hare. ;)

Maureen said...

What a great collection, how generous of them to donate these.

Anonymous said...

Those are really interesting, Russell. I noticed in the snowmen photo...there appears to be a couple of horses way in the background. Would love to see those up close.

A Lady's Life said...

Gosh it is hard to decide which one is the best I like them all.
The Mother and child, the woman stepping into the bath and the snow men seem healthy and chubby
The thinker rabbit and spider with long dangly legs look like leaner times as does the turtle which is flat
Then the cage and the coat is without a person Does this mean death?
Interesting.:)

Russell said...

Thanks for your comments!

Carla, I added a couple of photos of the horse! There is just one. The horse is made out of willow wood I think. It is quite amazing.

Russell said...

Carla,

You are right! There are TWO horses - not one! I looked at the photo again and then I remembered there are two - I think they are both horses but I don't recall for sure.

You have a good eye! Take care.

Jo said...

These are wonderful...!

I still think that fellow looks as if he's saying "Take me to your leader..." But, he's very cheerful about it.

Brenda said...

We have an area similar in my city called City Gardens and sculptures travel around the country. I only went there once, so I am not sure, but that was what I read anyway. I am curious if these will travel also.

Debbie Courson Smith said...

Those make me smile!

Pauline said...

yup - those last two are my favorites, too, though the think-hare is quite intriguing. Still, if I had to have one it in my yard it would be the last guy - what a happy/wistful/questioning face!

Barbara said...

I love the horse with the long neck and the giant grasshopper (if that's what it is).

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Russell. I love the horse!!!

Small City Scenes said...

Huh! What me worry? that could be alfred E. Newman without the big ears. hahaha!!

We have a huge sculpture garden in Seattle---aren't they fun. Artistic minds can be a little strange to others. MB