A beautiful water sculpture will soon grace the Central Park Mall, creating a wonderful space for everyone at beatitudes Campus to enjoy. The sculptor, Arizona-born Fred Bendheim, and the Bendheim family generously donated the water sculpture to Beatitudes Campus in the hopes that it would be enjoyed by more people – residents, family and friends – as a public art sculpture than if it were placed in a private setting.
The water sculpture has an interesting provenance. It was originally commissioned by Charles Schiffner, a Frank Lloyd Wright trained architect and former son-in-law of Wright, for “The Pottery House,” which was built in Paradise Valley. The Pottery House was a Frank Lloyd Wright designed home – the only adobe structure that Wright designed. The sculpture was installed in 1982 at the Pottery House, and it was later rebuilt and relocated in 1991 after The Pottery House was demolished.
The water sculpture will take a few weeks to install. work is now being done to create the colored concrete base and water source. The base for the sculpture and construction costs are underwritten by generous donors to the Art Fund at the campus.
Fred Bendheim will come to the campus during the last week of february to install the sculpture itself. According to an article in the Examiner, he is looking forward to re-installing the fountain/sculpture that he made 30 years ago. Watch for more information, as you will have the opportunity to meet the artist and get to know more about the sculpture.
Fred Bendheim has lived and worked in Brooklyn, new York, since 1983. As a teenager, he apprenticed with the pioneer surrealist painter, Philip Curtis. He has had numerous one-person shows and his works are in museum collections worldwide. He currently has a water-themed art show on display in New York City through the month of February. His commissions include sculptures for Frank Lloyd Wright buildings and paintings for some of the finest hotels in the world. Although he has traveled throughout the world, he says that working in his studio in Brooklyn has been his greatest adventure. He teaches art in New York City at The Art Students League and the College of Mt. Saint Vincent.
The sculpture will join two other art pieces installed on the Central Park Mall. The Waddell bronze sculpture, located on the west side of the mall by the bus stop, was donated by Fred's mother, Ronnie Bendheim. The Peace Pole, located on the east side of the mall, was commissioned by Beatitudes Campus for the 50th anniversary, and made possible through generous donations of friends of the campus. Beatitudes Campus is so grateful to people like the Bendheim family and to those who donated to the art fund. They are engaged and want to make our campus a beautiful place where all can enjoy the art. *
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