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In my inadvertent attempt to apparently have my name on as many threads as possible, here's the next installment.
This local area where I live in Northern/Northwestern South Carolina was renowned for peaches. A long-presented fact from some point in the past is that our county produced more peaches than the entire state of Georgia, which is formally known as "the Peach State." IN 1947, the local Peach Growers Association erected a monument to their achievements featuring a Pink Marble Peach with bronze stem, branch segment and leaf, atop a domestic marble feature. Cost in 1947 was reported to be $50,000.00 (!!) It eventually stood in a recreational facility called Cleveland Park on the then-edge of the city, somewhat as a marker of the entrance to Spartanburg. Since being installed there, the city has grown in a different direction and the Peach slipped into ever greater obscurity. No matter- Being a marble sculpture approx 5 miles from my studio, I had studied it and found it quite interesting.
Over the years, there had been some discussions about somehow making this old sculpture more relevant. This included asking my opinion about painting the original peach to make it more "peach" colored instead of the natural pink marble and about having me sculpt a new peach to take its place. About 3-4 years ago, I was contacted again. Now there were plans to move the installation, possibly disassemble & re-purpose the elements, etc. etc. Ultimately, it was moved to the campus of the fairly new Spartanburg Public Library Main Headquarters where it can be more readily viewed by the public.
During this process, it became better known that the Peach had originally had not only a bronze stem, but a large 30" long bronze leaf. I regularly field concepts and have to make it clear that just because something CAN be done doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done.. The original sculptor didn't seem to have a similar philosophy or diligence. At some point at least 40 years ago (early 1970's), his original leaf disappeared... Upon closer inspection, the cuticle scar modeled into the branch segment still held to stem of the leaf. It had apparently been modeled and cast in bronze but only secured to the feature via this 1/2" diameter stem and approx 1/4" diameter 1" long pin that entered the corner of the stone riser at a 45 degree angle. The adhesive used quickly failed, the stem could not support the weight and the leaf disappeared. Maybe it still exists somewhere as a trophy, but it probably went to the scrapyard to be recycled into beer and cigarettes.
Discussions were had with another artist who offered to hammer a new leaf out of copper sheet. When I was asked, I reminded the patrons about a similar copper-leafed Palmetto tree sculpture that suffered significant every time we had an ice storm. It had to be covered to prevent serious damage and was finally removed entirely as a nuisance. Since it was now a restoration effort to honor a past effort, I offered to do a new leaf in bronze. Once we got past the preliminary "I didn't know you could make things out of clay or metal- I thought you could only carve granite.." my appeal was well-received and I secured the commission.
Aside from the existing feature, there was very little information available. I was not even able to learn anything significant about the original sculptor. He was not from the area or even clearly knowledgeable about taxonomy regarding peach leaves. these four old photograph scans were all I had for reference-
one from the 40's,
one from the 50's
and the last two from the early 70's-
More to follow-
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