Meet "Veritas" -- Another Statue in an Unlikely Spot

I noticed this statue of a horse last week when I was driving by it on Spring Street. I don't know if it's new or whether I had just never noticed it before. It dominates the front yard of the Rossi Law Offices in Paso Robles. I was not able to get any information on the artist from the statue, but an online search told me the horse statue has been named Veritas, which means "truth." Evidently there was a contest to name the statue and the winner who came up with Veritas is Erik Mauk from Atascadero.

I'm looking forward to possibly discovering more art where I least expect to see it -- art outside the marketplace or the galleries.

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Art in Unexpected Places

As I walked through Paso Robles City Park on Monday, I saw something I hadn't noticed before, just behind the drinking fountain near the Twelfth Street park entrance. I strode over for a closer look, and it turned out to be this statue, "A Man's Best Friend," created by Christopher Bell. I have not been able to discover for sure which Christopher Bell created this sculpture, but I'm guessing it was the Christopher Bell who lived in Pacific Grove, California, and died in a skiing accident in 1998.

In January, 1999, the Paso Robles City Council accepted this bronze dog sculpture to be placed near the drinking fountain. It was intended to promote public art and to bring distinction to the city. It was cast by the Metal Arts Sculpture Center in Paso Robles.

 Next time you are at City Park, stop by the drinking fountain and take a close look. The photo to the right shows the back view. If you click the photo, it will enlarge.

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Paso Robles and Paderewski

One of the most famous of Paso Robles' repeat visitors was Ignacy Jan Paderewski. His birth and background were Polish, but Paso Robles was his American "home." He first visited Paso Robles, then known for its healing hot springs, in 1914, to try to relieve his arthritis pain. He often stayed at the Paso Robles Inn, and even bought land here. He had two  ranches on which he had almond orchards and vineyards, and he had hoped to retire here.

Every year Paso Robles honors Paderewski with the Paderewski Festival, a musical festival which features both internationally famous pianists and promising young pianists from the Central Coast. The wineries also join in the fun, and there are many other activities. The festival lasted four days in November, 2014. It began on November 6, which was Paderewski's birthday.

To honor its most famous visitor and part-time resident, the Paderewski Festival Board of Directors raised the money  to erect this 790-pound bronze statue, created by artist Jessie Corsaut. The statue is situated near the entrance of the historic Carnegie Library in the center of City Park downtown. It was dedicated on November 10, 2012. This photo shows a close-up of the plaque at the base of the statue. You can click on the photos to enlarge them so that you can read the print.

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F is for Faces of Freedom

It's amazing what a group of inspired citizens can accomplish when they are motivated. In April, 2006, The Atascadero Veterans Memorial Foundation was created by veterans and community members who wanted to honor veterans with a Veterans Memorial of a quality that would draw visitors from outside the city to see it and remember the service of those in San Luis Obispo County who gave their lives for their country. The Memorial was ready for Dedication on November 8, 2008.

The Memorial has several parts. In the center is a sculpture created by Mark Greenaway. The figure shown at the right is a frontal  view of a figure representing a contemporary soldier. He appears on the right end of the statue.

From the left to the right of the front of the statue we see representations soldiers from previous wars with the American Flag as a backdrop.

The back side of the statue shows the head of the bald eagle, representing strength and power.

Encircling the statue from behind is the Heroes Wall, on which the names of those in our county who gave their lives and continue to do to so are and will be inscribed. Each section of the wall is dedicated to those who died in one war, beginning with World War I and going right up to today's War on Terror. The Scroll of Honor in the center, right behind the sculpture, honors those from Atascadero who made the ultimate sacrifice.

You can find out more about the history and meaning of the Memorial, as well as a map and directions to get to it on the Faces of Freedom website. It also has photos taken from the air that will  show you everything at once. The Faces of Freedom Veterans Memorial is just north of and adjoining the Atascadero Lake Park and is an easy walk from the park. Why not go and see it on Memorial Day?

Sculptures by Central Coast Artist Vel Miller

I first met Vel Miller at the Paso Robles Festival of the Arts in May, 2012. The park was an overwhelming exhibit area and I was trying to see everything in the park and at Studios on the Park. Across the street at the same time, Phantom Project 2, the largest indoor exhibit to hit Paso Robles, was at the end of its exhibit period. I had managed to see that a few times before the Art  Festival started. In the midst of all that was happening, it's amazing I even discovered Vel Miller's exhibit. I'm so glad I  did.

Vel Miller's tags on her art read "Western Interpretations." She is interested in creating art that people will connect to emotionally, as well as aesthetically.  The booth pictured above is part of her 2012 display. In my more thorough article, A Walk Through the Festival of the Arts, 2012, I have a video of the sights and sounds of the festival. One of the scenes in it is a quick look at some individual pieces in the Vel Miller exhibit that shows them a bit more clearly and features some I didn't here.

Vel has created many works featuring horses and Native Americans, as you can see in these photos. She has won over 40 awards for her work. She has also taught oil painting for ten years. Her work is displayed in museums and galleries in many countries.

Therefore, it's no surprise to me that when the City of Paso Robles wanted a special monument in front of the Police Department, in 2000 it commissioned Vel Miller to create it. "Reward for Valor" shows a fire fighter handing a baby to a police woman. It now belongs to all of us in Paso Robles, and it's there for all visitors to the city to enjoy. Find it on 10th Street, near the corner of Park. Next time you are in Paso Robles downtown, pause and take a good look at it.

See more of the Paso Robles Art Scene on my Pinerest Board. Just click below.


Follow Barbara Radisavljevic's board Paso Robles Art Scene on Pinterest.

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A Whimsical Sculpture in San Luis Obsipo

Every now and then I have appointments that take me down the grade to San Luis Obispo. That gives me some photo opportunities I don't have in the North County. Often when I have to wait for a car to be repaired, I just walk around town to see what I can see.

On one occasion, I was walking downtown past the the San Luis Obispo Little Theater and I saw this fanciful sculpture beside it. So this is what I will share with you today. You can click to enlarge this photo.

I'd also like to show you a close-up of the base, with the artist information and more detail. It's amazing how many times I had been in San Luis Obispo and never noticed this.  In case the photo doesn't expand enough when you click it, it was a tribute to Bill Beeson created by Carol Paulsen and Stephen Plowman.

Are there any sculptures in your area you especially like to see?

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