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Fair Park Esplanade
Photo courtesy Clint Skinner, February 2016 |
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Located
behind Frank P. Holland Court, the Fair Park Esplanade refers to
a 700-foot reflecting pool situated between the Centennial
Building and Automobile
Building with a sidewalk on both sides. It has a left pylon
decorated with a bas-relief of a pegasus at the front and a pylon
adorned with a bas-relief of a siren on the right. In front of each
rectangular structure, a fountain decorated with a shell design
sprouts water into the pool. At the other end, a tall monolith with
a small fountain has two human statues standing next to it.
Between the two extremities is a collection of 272 water jets capable
of spraying one hundred feet into the air. The jets work together
to perform a dancing waters show every thirty minutes. During special
events, they are accompanied by music and special lighting around
the pool. Lasers and pyrotechnics join the shows during the nightly
performances at the state fair.
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Fair
Park Esplanade
Photo courtesy Clint Skinner, February 2016 |
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The
Fair Park Esplanade was built specifically for the centennial
exposition. Unfortunately, many of the features mysteriously disappeared
over the years or deteriorated with the passage of time. Efforts to
restore the esplanade to its former glory began in 2008, funded through
a bond election which took place two years later. The project's cost
exceeded thirteen million dollars, which was the price of installing
the dancing fountains. Workers added benches, landscaping, scoop lights,
the monolith, and the pegasus pylon. David Newton recreated
the two human statues named Tenor and Contralto, representing
a male and female athlete respectively. No one knows what happened
to the originals. They simply vanished. The statues were the work
of Lawrence Tenney Stevens, one of the main artists who contributed
to the centennial celebration.
Lawrence Stevens spent his early life in Massachusetts, where he developed
a love for sculpting and increased his skills throughout his school
years. After graduating, he attended the Boston Museum School before
volunteering for World War
I. He returned from the war and managed to complete his education
while spending time at the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation. In 1922,
he won an art contest that rewarded him with a fellowship to study
sculpture at the American Academy in Rome. After his return from Italy,
Stevens decided to use his artistic skills to glorify the American
West and provoke patriotism. He started in New York, but moved to
South California. However, he spent his summers in Wyoming, where
he focused on sculpting figures identified with the Old West such
as ranchers, cowboys, farmers, and broncos using an assortment of
clay, bronze, marble, and other materials. Lawrence's extensive artwork
gained lots of attention, resulting in his commission for the exposition.
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References:
1.Bigtex.com
2.Dallashistory.org
3.Dallas Morning News Archives
4.Fairpark.org
5.Slate, John H. Historic Dallas Parks. Arcadia Publishing, 2010.
6.Tshaonline.org
7.Watermelon-kid.com
8.Wikipedia.org
8.Winters, Willis Cecil. Fair Park. Arcadia Publishing, 2010. |
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage or recent photos, please contact
us. |
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