3 Amazing Sculptures In Nevada, You Need To See
Nevada is a state in the Western region of the United States, it is also where the famous Las Vegas is located. Although Nevada has a lot of interesting sites and places to visit, today we will specifically be discussing 3 amazing sculptures you need to see for yourself – and maybe take a couple of pictures with – on your next visit to Nevada.
NO. 1
Albert Szukalski’s Last Supper Sculptures
Late Belgian-Polish sculptor Albert Szukalski’s ‘Last Supper’ was conceived in 1984. He cast these 13 ‘ghosts’ in an echo of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of Christ’s last supper.
Though they were originally designed to only endure two years, ‘The Last Supper 1984’ has surprisingly stood the test of time. Though three figures were destroyed (and since refurbished) by either mules or vandals, ‘Last Supper’ was noticeably spared the devastation wrought by a 2007 windstorm that destroyed several of the museum’s works, including Szukalski’s own ‘Desert Flower’.
Albert was attracted to the Mojave Desert for many reasons, not the least of which was the Mojave’s resemblance to the deserts of the Middle East.
“The Last Supper” became the Goldwell Open Air Museum’s self-described ‘genesis piece’, without which the diverse array of work currently displayed on its 15 acres would not have been possible.
As the Goldwell Open Air Museum expanded, so too did Szukalski’s contributions to the grounds (including ‘Ghost Rider’ in 1984 and ‘Desert Flower’ in 1989), even as other famed sculptors added their own works of varying styles to the landscape.
NO. 3
Guardian of Eden
The sculpture, ‘Guardian of Eden’, by New Yorker Kate Raudenbush, was moved from Burning Man to the Nevada Museum of Art’s sculpture plaza in 2008.
Guardian of Eden frames our current ecological crisis within the petals of the Sacred Lotus flower, which is known as the mythological seat of creation and the symbol of enlightenment.
In Hindu creation mythology, a new era of time is created after a lotus flower blooms. As a meditation on our own era of time, this steel lotus flower blooms before us as a physical reflection of the fierceness and beauty of our planet under threat.
At night, the entire flower radiates light. A curved mirrored seed pod illuminates the upper petals, and below, the ancient Egyptian “Flower of Life” symbol radiates downward from the heart of the lotus, its interlocking circles representing the ancient “Life Force Code” of creation.
Guardian of Eden is said to be a gathering space for us to consider our role in this turbulent age and to recognize that earth’s survival is intimately connected to our own and it is up to us to define what this new era of time will be.
How amazing it would be to see this sculpture in person knowing what it means.
NO. 3
Winged Figures Of The Republic Sculptures
The “Winged Figures of the Republic” was created in the 1930s by Norwegian immigrant, Oskar J.W. Hansen, who entered a design contest and won.
The statues are often considered one of the major attractions at Hoover Dam, Nevada, besides the dam itself. They are 30 feet high with a 142ft flagpole between them.
Hansen firmly believed that the Hoover Dam represented one of the greatest man-made structures of all time. So much so, he stated that the dam can be compared to works such as the great pyramids of Egypt.
Oskar J.W. Hansen explained that the Winged Figures of the Republic had a deeper meaning. It had to do with the blood, sweat, and tears of the men who worked on the dam and what it meant for our nation’s future.
Hansen said, “In each of these monuments can be read the characteristics of these men, and on a larger scale, the community of which they are part. Thus, mankind itself is the subject of the sculptures at Hoover Dam.”
It was Hansen’s hope that his sculpture would represent the strength and accomplishment of the Hoover Dam as well as express his creativity and pay homage to the brave men who worked tirelessly on the dam.
The Winged Figures of the Republic honor the aspirations and growth of a nation as it brings life to a dry desert.
Having looked at these amazing sculptures and the meanings behind them, you must be itching to see them for yourself, in person.
For any art lovers planning a trip to Nevada, visiting these sculptures will surely add another layer of adventure to your trip.
