The Sedona Main
Street Program nominates ‘Red Rocks and the Cowboy Artist’ sculpture by
Clyde “Ross” Morgan’s for Best Public Improvement.
The ‘Red Rocks and
the Cowboy Artist’ sculpture is the centerpiece of the pedestrian plaza
at the Award winning mid-block crosswalk. The crosswalk was created to
provide an attractive but safe pedestrian node along our busy highway,
large enough to draw in the public. The pedestrian node was designed to
include sculpture, and is now a reality with ‘Red Rocks and the Cowboy
Artist’.
The City of Sedona
Arts and Culture Commission and the Arts in Public Places commissioned a
competition for Public Art that had a theme to preserve and respect the
rich history of the Sedona area. A selection committee from the Heard
Museum, Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Phippen Museum, Scottsdale
Museum of Contemporary Art, and Phoenix Public Art Program chose three
sculptures for the final stage of competition which was the Sedona’s
community vote. The residents of Sedona voted, and had their voices
heard. ‘Red Rocks and the Cowboy Artist’ sculpture by Clyde “Ross”
Morgan, was picked by our community, and commissioned by the City of
Sedona as the first ever sculpture to remain in the heart of the Sedona
Main Street Program District.
This full sized
bronze sculpture depicts Sedona’s cowboy artist Joe Beeler, one of the
Cowboy Artists of America founders. Joe has his eyes fixed upon Sedona’s
red rock formations, which are the oldest and most inspiring features of
Sedona. The young aspiring artist beside Joe is preparing to photograph
this monument, while capturing her glimpse of what is seen by artist
Joe.
The Sedona
resident’s vote for ‘Red Rocks and the Cowboy Artist’ gave the community
a vested interest in this primarily visitor-oriented destination.
Visitors are provided a historic window into our past. ‘Red Rocks and
the Cowboy Artist’ is a photographic background for thousands, who take
a piece of Sedona’s history with them forever, preserving our past for
future generations to come.
Photos included with Nomination
