by Barry Flanagan
Barry Flanagan adopted the hare as a sculptural focus in the 1970s captivated by a personal memory and its history as a symbol of human behavior with deep literary traditions in fables and poetry. This marked an artistic turn for Flanagan, whose prolific career began with celebrated multi-media works known for their cool conceptualism. By contrast, the lithe and spirited hares ever-present in Flanagan’s later work embrace a figural vocabulary that draws deeply from the emotional and impressionistic expressionism of earlier sculptors such as Rodin. It is believed that the inspiration for this sculpture came from a 1996 installation Flanagan created in New York City. The artist placed nine bronze hares ranging from seven to twelve feet in height and presented in different poses along Park Avenue between 54th and 59th streets. The juxtaposition of the larger-than-life size hares against the backdrop of New York’s iconic skyline inspired Flanagan to create several new compositions featuring the Empire State Building and Flanagan’s animal muse: the hare. In numerous works such as this 2002 example, the hare itself becomes anthropomorphized. Donning the pose of a swimmer with arms outstretched and legs paddling, this carefully modeled hare soars above the simplified form of the Empire State Building, suggesting its existence as a plinth upon which the more captivating form of the animated hare may best be viewed.
Gift from Sam Rose `58
Congratulations! You have completed Art Walk and now can lead friends and family on your own narrated art tour of downtown Carlisle. Feel free to rest up a bit on one of the many chairs in the beautiful garden area behind the Paz Center. You might even spot some more sculpture!