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Images
Metadata
Artist |
Arenz, Tre |
Caption |
Civilized |
Collection |
TMA |
Credit Line |
Gift of Mr. Michael G. Grainger, Daingerfield, Texas |
Date |
n.d. |
Description |
Sculpture of Colossus of Constantine foot. Part 1 and 2 of 3. This sculpture is of the left foot of the Colossus of Constantine, and its cracked just below the toes. Above the ankle, there lays a golden wolf. According to the artist, there can be two interpretations of this piece. The work represents the famous foot of the colossal Roman statue of Emperor Constantine, which had broken into pieces centuries ago. The broken foot represented Western civilization attempting to plant a "heavy footprint" on nature and failing to completely control it or other cultures. The second interpretation could be that the foot may not necessarily represent Western civilization but could symbolize the "naked foot" that all people have. According to the artist, "in a sense, we all stumble, which is why the foot is broken. We stumble but we want to stand on our feet and take care of ourselves, and we are in despair over the environmental demise (brought about by civilization). The wolf (in this interpretation) has a positive connotation: it is a she-wolf, it is golden, it is strong, standing on top of the broken foot. It symbolizes optimism." Tre Arenz’s (1953–2003) training was in ceramics. Her work in two and three dimensions is whimsical and yet poignant, referencing the human in the domesticity of everyday. Interested in expanding the boundaries of ceramics as a medium, she was influenced by the California Funk movement, and her work exhibits this playfulness. Arenz conducted workshops and was commissioned by the City of San Antonio Convention Center, the City of Austin Art in Public Places, and the Austin Zoo. Her work appears in many public and private collections. She received numerous awards and grants, including the Connemara Conservancy Foundation Grant and a Rockefeller Foundation grant to study in Bellagio, Italy. |
Dimensions |
H-13.5 W-15.5 L-21 inches |
Medium |
Mixed media |
Material |
Ceramic/Metal |
Catalog Number |
2002.07a |
Title |
Civilized |