Hank Saxe and Cynthia Patterson have been commissioned to create a sculpture
for the East Las Vegas Community/ Senior Center.

     Two groups of sculpture will frame the entry gate and serve as a marker to welcome visitors and to further establish an identity for the Center. The multicolored, complex forms and unique surfaces will encourage passersby and users of the facility to discover and enjoy the nuances of the work at close range and from a distance.


     Colorful handmade ceramic tile with textures and patterns specifically created for this sculpture will provide the finished surfaces.
     This artwork is the convergence of many influences. It is inspired by two of the most recognized features of Hispanic architecture: vivid surface embellishment using ceramic tile and courtyard gardens for both public and private enjoyment and contemplation.
     

     The Sculpture Garden incorporates the bold forms, bright colors, and striking flourishes that are a part of the Las Vegas signage tradition.

 

 

 

   

     Native Southwestern plants such as yuccas and agaves, with their spiky, upright stalks and graceful, curving leaves are reflected in this work.

Pictures of  Work in Progress

     
 

     
 

June 2006

      

 
July 2006

 
      
 
 
 

The Las Vegas City Council invites you to join
Mayor Oscar B. Goodman and Mayor Pro Tem Gary Reese
For the dedication of a new public artwork created for the
East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center

'El Jardín'
 by Cynthia Patterson and Hank Saxe



Monday July 31, 2006 at 5:30 PM
East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center - 250 North Eastern Avenue

The dedication will take place at the artwork site
on the corner of Eastern and Stewart Avenues.

For further information, please contact:
Loretta Arrington at 702-229-6405

     'El Jardín', a public artwork by Cynthia Patterson and Hank Saxe, was created especially for the East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center. It celebrates the East Las Vegas community and the role of the Center in the reinvigoration of the neighborhood. Two sculpture groupings comprised of 8 individual works frame the entry gate, welcoming visitors and identifying the Center as a site of creativity and community activities. 

     'El Jardín' is embellished with the artists’ unique, hand-crafted tiles and inspired by the architecture and artwork of the Spanish-speaking world; specifically, courtyard gardens used for enjoyment and contemplation and the lavish use of decorative tile on buildings. Native plants such as yuccas and agaves, with their spiky, upright stalks and graceful curving leaves are reflected in the silhouettes of the sculpture. The work also pays homage to the Las Vegas tradition of signage with its use of exuberant forms, bright colors and striking flourishes.

Artists Cynthia Patterson and Hank Saxe live in Taos, New Mexico where they create public and private art commissions, architectural ceramics, and sculptural work. 

'El Jardín' is an art in public places project by the City of Las Vegas Arts Commission
Office: 702-229-6844
http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/lvac
 



A project of the City of Las Vegas Arts Commission