Category Archives: Public Art

February Frieze Frame Friday – Nature Friezes

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701 Capitol

Since there was really no freezing weather this February, the architectural friezes have had to do.  The final feature in this series is actually five small friezes on a one story building at 701 West Capitol.

This one story office building sits on a corner with the entrance actually being off the corner instead of a street front.  Though the majority of the building is brick, the granite front entrance wraps around the corner. 

(no idea what this is)

The friezes are spaced at the top of this granite.  According to the Pulaski County Assessor’s office, this building (which is across the street from the Federal Courthouse) was built in 1960.

The friezes, designed in an art deco style, depict scenes of nature.  It is apparent that one is of a bird (an eagle?), one is a duck flying, one is of fish, and one of an antlered animal (an antelope?).

The remaining frieze is a mystery to the LR Culture Vulture. All of the other designs are very detailed yet this one appears to be more stylistic.

Eagle (centered over entrance)

Duck flying (along Capitol Avenue)

Fish swimming (along Capitol Avenue)

Antelope playing (along Capitol Avenue)

Sculpture Vulture: Bill Clinton

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Tomorrow is not President’s Day, it is Washington’s Birthday.  But in honor of the only Arkansan to succeed Washington as President, today’s Sculpture Vulture highlights the bust of William Jefferson Clinton which is on the grounds of the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion.

The bust was commissioned in 1994 by the Little Rock Advertising and Promotion Commission.  It had originally been intended as more of a plaque featuring Clinton’s face. But sculptor Jan Woods, who had been selected to create the art, suggested turning it into a bust.  A bust does look more statesman-like and appropriate for the intention of honoring the only resident of the Governor’s Mansion who has also lived in the White House.

Woods created a very life-like, realistic depiction of Bill Clinton.  She captures the slight smile and intense gaze of his face which is part of what creates the feeling of empathy and personal connection even his harshest critics agree he possesses.  Unlike the JFK bust in the Kennedy Center which is abstract or the lifeless gazes so often found in busts and statues of earlier presidents, this bust captures the essence of the man.

The bust sits on the front lawn of the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion to the west of the main gate.  Even when the grounds are closed, it is visible to the public through the fence.

February Frieze Frame Friday, the 3rd

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This frieze is found above the entrance to the building at 801 West Third Street, which houses a law firm.  The building was built in 1954 as an office.  At the time, that portion of Third Street was a mix of commercial and residential structures.

Though it is only a one story building, the combination of the frieze above the door and the glass blocks framing the door makes the building look more imposing than a typical 1950s one-story office structure would.

As was the case with many 20th century friezes, this depicts people in “modern” dress but in classical style.  These are less angular depictions than are found in Art Deco freizes; the lines are more natural and realistic.  The women’s fashions are definitely mid-20th century in dress and hair.  The men are depicted in a similar fashion, but in keeping with the classic tradition, the men are shirtless.

Heart of Art

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From the recent Tesseract Dancing exhibit at Historic Arkansas Museum, here is Brett Anderson’s Stone Cold.  Made of alabaster and stainless steel, this 7″x6″x6″ sculpture is either abstract or realistic depending on the angle.  Unfortunately the LR Culture Vulture only has this one photo of it so you cannot truly appreciate his artistry.

The Tesseract Dancing exhibit showcased Anderson and Emily Galusha.  It was a wonderful exhibit and a great showcase for two up-and-coming Arkansas artists.

Sculpture Vulture: Harriet Tubman

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In preparation for the opening of the Clinton Library in 2004, a series of sculptures were placed which linked a walkway between the River Market and the Clinton Presidential Park.

One of these sculptures is entitled Harriet Tubman.  Since she was from the era of President Lincoln, it seems fitting to feature this sculpture on this, Lincoln’s birthday.

The bronze sculpture, by Jane DeDecker, depicts Miss Tubman grasping the hand of a young boy and leading him on a walk.  DeDecker captures both compassion and a steely determination in the features of Miss Tubman’s face.  The folds of their clothes indicate that they are on a journey.

Whether their walk is a part of the Underground Railroad or simply a walk along the path in post-war times is immaterial. Miss Tubman understood that there is always some form of oppression one must struggle against.

Etched into the base of the statue (and repeated on plaque on the pedestal) is a quote attributed to Miss Tubman.  “Children, if you are tired, keep going; if you’re hungry, keep going; if you’re scared, keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.”

The statue was originally located in Riverfront Park near the site of the current Game and Fish Nature Center.  It was relocated during the construction of that facility and now anchors the entrance to Clinton Presidential Park.  Harriet Tubman was a gift of Haskell and Peggy Dickinson to the City of Little Rock.

February Frieze Frame Friday, Part Deux

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Today’s February Frieze Frame Friday is the entrance to the old Little Rock City Jail.  This building, which sits behind City Hall, was the jail from the 1930s through the early 1960s.  It now serves as a parking garage, Parks & Recreation maintenance area, and city employee fitness facility.

Though the entrance below the frieze has long been bricked in, the jail bars are still detectable above the frieze.

This building was constructed by the WPA. The classical meets deco style of the frieze is typical of the works from that era.

For decades a metal awning bisected the frieze making it undetectable to people who walked by it.  But in 2007, as part of some renovations to the building (spearheaded by city employee Susan K. Langley), the awning was removed and the frieze became more prominent.  (As prominent as can be when the frieze is right at Broadway street level and is blocked from Broadway traffic by balustrades.

Sculpture Vulture: The Spirit of Central High

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Located at the northwest corner of Park and Daisy L. Gatson Bates is the Central High School Commemorative Garden. The showcase of the garden is a sculpture created by Michael Warrick and Aaron P. Hussey.

The focal point of this piece is a pair of archways. The outward facing sides of each archway evokes the architecture of the historic high school through the buff bricks, cornice work and even statues.

On the reverse are a series of black and white photographs depicting the rich history and legacy of the school from its construction in 1927 through 2000.

By depicting a variety of decades and events, this sculpture does not shy away from 1957 there are images from that school year included. These several dozen photographs represent the hundreds of thousands of students who have gone to high school in this building since the doors first opened.

Nor does the sculpture try to explain away or justify actions. Instead it embraces the roots of excellence which gave birth to the school and shows the manifestation of that excellence in modern times which has been made possible by the crucible that was the flashpoint of 1957.