Clarence Deming with Aztec inspired sculpture, 1954.
Sculpture Tour
"Some very fundamental truths are reflected in art, truths to do with religion, philosophy, and mythology." (Mead, 1984, p. 25)
When you enter the conservatory you enter another world. The permanent tropical plants and changing floral displays are drawn from every continent. These plants have been removed from their natural settings and reassembled in the conservatory for enjoyment and study. Hidden amongst the displays are six sculptures created by Clarence Deming.
The sculptures are artistic reinterpretations of religious art found all over the world and represent the traditions and legends of African, Maori, and Aztec cultures. Not exact replicas, the sculptures sample from several traditions. Like the plants removed from their natural habitats, these sculptures are removed from the social and cultural grid of music, dance, ritual, language, and place, as well as the spiritual processes that gave the art meaning. (Mead, 1984; Schmalenbach, 1988)
This tour will introduce you to some of the art traditions that inspired the sculptures here in the conservatory.
"…artists strive to build into their artistic creations the mana (power) that will move people." (Mead, 1984, p. 24)
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Clarence Deming |
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Captain From Castile |
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Quetzalcoatl Art Tradition: Aztec |
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Ancestor Figure Art Tradition: Maori |
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Wall Relief Art Tradition: Aztec and Maori |
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Head Art Tradition: Maori |
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Ancestor Figure Art Tradition: African |
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Alligator Art Tradition: Realism |
About the Authors
Amy E. Ryken is an Assistant Professor of Education at the University of Puget Sound and chair of the conservatory's education committee. She researched, wrote and designed this tour.
Holly A. Senn is a sculptor and Virtual Reference Services Librarian at Pacific Lutheran University. She researched, wrote, and photographed this tour.
The authors thank Megan Fish, Office Assistant, University of Puget Sound for her graphic design and book assembly contributions, and Bill Rhind, Metro Parks Tacoma Historian, for his assistance in locating primary source materials about Clarence Deming.
Last Updated: Mar 22, 2007 4:06 PM