The Rose Gate went up on Sept. 4,'97
Zilker Botanical Gardens, Austin, Texas
The Rose Gate went up on Sept. 4,'97Zilker Botanical Gardens, Austin, Texas |
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Over three centuries of combined professional experience in stone and iron make this team the most seasoned and talented group ever assembled for an Austin public art project.
Nicholas Brumder (Liberty Forge and Brumder Ornamental Iron) apprenticed as an iron smith with European masters and with the renowned Francis Whitaker in the U.S.. He is recognized by his peers as having the greatest technical mastery in iron in Texas.
Jeep and Joseph Kincannon, and Architect Holly Young-Kincannon (Archaic) apprenticed ten years as stone carvers at St. John's Cathedral in New York and now work out of the Elizabeth Ney Conservatory. Joseph and Holly were newlywed during this project.
Tom Lupton (Lupton Machine) is a master machinist with experience ranging from recreating Civil War artillery to fabricating aerospace hardware. His cannon, "Ol' Smoky", has long been a famous fixture at University of Texas football games, and Tom has fielded a battery of 11 custom made cannons for the Austin Symphony's 1812 Overture. He currently specializes in architectural metalwork.
Terry Ortiz, P. E., has been the consulting engineer on three Austin area projects using native limestone megaliths weighing up to twenty tons. Starting with the "Big Arch" (with Santos/Perez) over the East town Lake hike and bike trail and culminating in the Rose and Butterfly Gates. The gate stones will be the largest blocks ever quarried and brought into Austin.
James and David Perez (Astric) grew up in the shadow of the forge as the sons of the late Joe Perez, who worked in the famous Weigels iron shop for 18 years and became well known for his public sculptural iron work as well as private commissions for luminaries such as President and Ladybird Johnston and Willie Nelson. Important elements by Joe Perez have been incorporated. The Perez sons are continuing and further developing the tradition represented by their father.
Project sculptor/coordinator David Santos designs and works both stone and iron using themes reflective of our Texas cultural and natural heritage. He learned stone carving from Augustin Ruiz, assistant to Pompeo Coppini, the Italian master famous for his University of Texas monuments, and Joe Sanchez, third generation Texas stone carver. Santos learned creative iron work from Joe Perez, with whom he collaborated on many public commissions, and Nick Brumder and Tom Lupton.
Iron smith Michael Dorr has made critical contributions in iron, stone, and logistical support.
Artist Blacksmith, Dennis Ford, assistant to Nicholas Brumder, has made many contributions of artistic and practical detail.
Nol Putnam, recent director of the national artist blacksmith association (ABANA), an east coast smith famous for his ironwork in the National Cathedral, and Bill Bastus, blacksmith in residence at the National Museum of Ornamental Iron have contributed artistic details to the gate. Nol gave a two day workshop (April,'97) on forge work next to the gate (Nick's shop) for 50 Texas artist blacksmiths (members of Texas Artists' Blacksmiths Assoc. (TABA) and Balcones Forge (Central Texas) chapter).
Other Central Texas Iron Masters are contributing small details by invitation.
Key volunteers include Barry Alaimo, in stone and David Deming in iron work, and engineering research.
Under JumpStart Arts the artists have involved Austin youths in the design and building of the gate. David Santos has toured Austin inner city schools with a portable forge providing hands-on demonstration of creation of gate elements.
Final Progress Reports
Nol Putnam Gives Workshop to Texas Smiths as Gate Stands Nearby
Final Ironwork in Progress, Fall, '96
Stone Carving Begins in the Rain- 11-17-95
Making Samples in Iron and Stone
Special Thanks, for logistical support, to Capital Cranes and Fiesta of Austin, Texas.
What are the odds? Beside the Rose Garden driveway there is small quarry. A wandering paleontologist spotted dinosaur trackways on the exposed limestone. Over two hundred footprints have now been found, along with a spectacular giant turtle skeleton. Botanical Gardens' master planning has now expanded the concept of the Rose Garden area to include a "Cretaceous Garden" theme. The spectacular Rose Gate is being revised in mid-creation to reflect this development.
Educational sponsor JumpStart Arts is funded in part by the City of Austin under the auspices of the Austin Arts Commission.
Thanks for flying PolyCosmos.
