Walking Sculpture Tour, At the Ridges

Walking Sculpture Tour at The Ridges

If you’ve been looking for an outdoor activity that will get you
moving, the walking sculpture tour at The Ridges will be perfect
for a little physical activity. You will explore two sculptures while
walking around The Ridges and enjoying nature. 

You will begin the tour on the front steps of the Kennedy Museum of Art and walk to the first sculpture, Family by David Deming. Stand on the front steps, facing away from the museum (toward the road/parking lot). Turn to the left and (watching for cars) follow the brick road. Once you pass the first cluster of trees and bushes, you should see the sculpture in the grass opening.

Walking Sculpture Tour, Sculpture 1

Sculpture #1: Family by David Deming

David Deming is a nationally recognized sculptor who grew 
up in Lakewood, Ohio, near Cleveland. Deming retired after
a career as both a teacher and art administrator (1968 – 2010)
and continues making sculptures in his studio located in Cleveland. 
His art includes both abstract and figurative styles, and Deming
enjoys making sculptures of dogs and abstract bouquets.
His work is kept in both public and private collections and can
even be found in hospitals and recreation centers. His sculpture,
Family, was donated to the Kennedy Museum of Art in 2008.

 
 ACTIVITY #1:
As you view the sculpture, think about
and discuss the following questions with
other participants:		ACTIVITY #2:
After viewing Family by David Deming, you are ready to move
on to the second sculpture of the tour, Gold Butte by Deborah
Butterfield. As you walk, take some time to notice what’s around you.
Do you see any of these things?
 
Walk around the sculpture. What do you see?
Why do you think the sculpture is named “Family”?
What does a family consist of?
What does family mean to you?
- Something blue                 - Something new
- Something broken           - Something tiny
- Something old                     - Something giant

To get to the second sculpture, start at the first sculpture facing away from it (toward the road). Turn to the left and continue walking along the road until you reach the end of the parking lot. Cross the street and walk up the stepped pathway between the two brick buildings. Right after passing the buildings, you should see the second sculpture in the grass off to the right.

 

Sculpture #2: Gold Butte by Deborah Butterfield

Deborah Butterfield has been creating sculptures of horses 
out of scrap materials since 1973 and has been noted for adding
impeccable details to represent the anatomy of a horse’s body. The
artist has stated that she began creating horse sculptures as a form
of self-portraits. Her fascination with horses quickly turned into
creating sculptures that recognize the animals as “independent
beings of elegance, power and existential meaning.” Butterfield
pays great attention to how she places materials to create volume
and space needed to define the muscles of a horse’s body.
This sculpture was made in 2003 and cast in bronze. 

Walking Sculpture Tour, 2
Activity #3: 
As you view Gold Butte, imagine you are an artist and you are creating
a sculpture to add somewhere near The Ridges. What materials would
you use to create the piece to make it fit with other sculptures around the
area? Where would you install this piece? Take a picture of where you
would place your sculpture. 
When you get back home you can create a drawing of your site from
your photograph and add your sculpture.
 		Both of these sculptures are part
of a mAppAthens Art Stroll Tour.
To connect to other tours on The
Ridges, here are some links:
Kid’s Nature Hike
The Ridges History Loop
The Ridges Land Use History Tour		  
After your outdoor walking tour you can complete the activities below at The Ridges or at home! 
Activity #4: 
Deborah Butterfield created horse sculptures as “self portraits.” What animal would you use as your “self portrait?” Collect items from around the house or outside to create an animal sculpture that could represent your self portrait. Think about how Deborah Butterfield used sticks and metal materials to create depth and muscles in the horse sculpture. How will you use the materials to create the animal and bring it to life? What does this sculpture mean to you?
 		 Activity #5: 
In his sculpture Family, David Deming uses simple shapes, lines, and curves to suggest the forms of human figures. Using paper and a writing utensil try to draw the members of your family without lifting your writing utensil from the paper (making it one continuous line). To get some really silly results, try closing your eyes while you draw. If you have craft wire at home, try making a 3D version of your line drawing! 
 
PDF Version 
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