This fall Roger has begun to prepare to write a book on sculptor Manuel Izquierdo, and to curate the show of Izquierdo’s work, which opens at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in January of 2013. There will be many trips, conversations, interviews, library hours…ahead this winter and spring as the event and the document take shape. As this is book/show number 7, we know the drill around here as Manuel beings to take shape in Roger’s head. As it all begins, there are visits to various sculptures including this one, “The Dreamer” of 1980. R took a nice series of photos of this sculpture on a fall day recently, and has let me share them with you. “The Dreamer” is located in Portland in Pettygrove Park and this is the first view from First Avenue, looking uphill:
Inscribed in the base of the sculpture is the title and date, Manuel’s name, and the names of his two assistants Peter Davis and William Rietveldt. More photos…
there is ONE mysterious piece…????
On The Way 
Cool Bonnie! I love the backdrop of the fall leaves around it..
It is so nice that you can share with us. The sculpture looks like it is rising over the hill in the 2nd to last photo-very captivating.
So many memories, if Roger would like to interview Jim or I we are available, Manuel was a dear friend of my late husband, Jack….and long time friends with JIm. Love the imagery of the piece as you are coming upon it.
Will Roger write about its place in the Urban Renewal Wasteland? To me there’s a mismatch with the site. It’s in a set of superblocks from one of Portland’s early urban renewal experiments, with a terrific historic neighborhood leveled, and even though there are lovely walkways, it still languishes in isolation from the streetscape and multiple uses. It also suffers from its proximity to the two splendid Halprin Fountains, the Keller Forecourt Fountain and the Lovejoy Fountain. In the walk north-to-south, or south-to-north, it is something of an anticlimax between the two. (It’s interesting you approached it on the east-west axis.) It seems like a different location would show it off so much better.
My daughter lives almost under the OHSU tram way. She drives and walks pass this
piece frequently, as do I in visiting her. One has to work at seeing this piece but I find it a wonderful surprise and relief when I do make the effort. I also use the east-west axis.
Though neither Roger or I are big fans of typical urban renewal neighborhood evisceration, I think the piece stands on its own..interesting that Sue-Del as a walker comes upon it from 1st avenue heading west. In a way it’s like a nice surprise between the fountains (on the north/south axis you don’t see it until you are right upon it!) Of course the piece is owned by the City of Portland through the RAC (Regional Arts and Culture) Council, so our opinions about placement…from far away Salem…are moot. It’s worth seeking out for sure…with a grateful thought about public art being in the parks at all!
Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the book, and the solving of the mysterious panel.
Really like the new blog format, by the way!
You might be interested in slides 1 and 10 in this sequence, which show the original concept for the north-south procession. That other forest tracks have been “worn” into the landscape is fascinating. Next time I am there I will be sure to walk east-west!
Hi Bonnie! I nominated you for an award. You can read about it at http://inotherwordsandpictures.wordpress.com I enjoy your posts and thank you for being a source of inspiration and sharing your life and interests with us..
My dad was an artist here in chicago and apparently met Manuel sometime in the early 1960s because he has one of his sculptures and then Manuel made a large sketch of the sculpture and dedicated it to my parents on the signature line…my dad also had some prints of his. if you would like a photo of the sculpture and sketch, i will be happy to send it.
marcy
Love his work
Pete Davis and I worked on this piece with Manuel. The odd piece is an entry hatch for getting inside to mount the sculpture to the concrete and for making repairs. –
Bill Rietveldt
I still remember when my dad (Pete Davis) was doing some repairs on this sculpture and needed some of the sound deadening foam on the interior of this sculpture removed. Being that I was a small child at the time, he sent me in through that hatch with a screwdriver to chisel out the foam! I think he needed the foam removed so he could do some welding with out catching the foam on fire. Definitely one of my fondest childhood memories, the first time my dad needed my help at work.