Meadows Museum Gets a New Face

By Megan Bice
mbice@smu.edu

Members of the SMU community celebrated the re-opening and dedication of the Meadows Museum Sculpture Plaza at the south end of Bishop Boulevard Wednesday evening.

A 10-ft. white-painted stainless steel sculpture, “Sho,” by contemporary Spanish artist Jaume Plensa stands as the centerpiece of the newly renovated plaza. The sculpture is a portrait of the head of a young Chinese girl who inspired the artist to create a three-dimensional replica of the girl’s curvy and delicate facial features.

“Sho is our most important acquisition by a living artist since Calatrava’s ‘Wave’ in 2002,” Meadows Museum Director Mark A. Roglán said.

“Wave” is the steel, bronze and nylon moving sculpture located at the base of the museum.

The Meadows Museum obtained this major acquisition with helpful donations from The Pollock Foundation. The Meadows, Cree, Doolin, Hamon, Irwin and McDermott families also contributed to the plaza renovation.

“The Meadows Museum is the home of one of the finest collections of Spanish art outside of Spain,” SMU President R. Gerald Turner said.

“As you come into the campus, [the plaza] provides a wonderful sight and underscores the importance of the visual arts at SMU.”

Other features of the plaza include the Jake and Nancy Hamon Fountain and Staircase leading up to the sculpture garden, 9,000 square feet of lawn area equipped with benches to host outdoor events, and four overlooks to the SMU boulevard, one of which is located above the “Wave.”

“We want our students, faculty and the community to make [the plaza] a destination to not only see art, but as a welcoming space to gather with friends, have lunch under a shady tree, or even to sit and read a book on the grass,” Roglán said.

The plaza is equipped with wireless Internet and will be illuminated at night.

Following the dedication ceremony, attendees gathered in the sculpture garden at the museum’s entrance to admire the large head sculpture and the plaza renovations.

Meadows students provided music inside the museum, where patrons could view all of the museum’s exhibitions as well as the Elizabeth Meadows Sculpture Collection with related contemporary sculptures by Spanish artists.

Anne Hargis, an arts history major, volunteered to guide guests through the exhibitions and provide information on different sculptures.

“I think Sho was a big acquisition for the Meadows Museum,” she said. “Having such a well-known piece makes the museum more welcoming to the Dallas community.”

The Meadows Museum Sculpture Plaza is free and open to the public.