Vallejo Artist
Shines in the SunBy Mary
Swift-Swan
Internationally
respected artist Benbow Bullock created the sculpture that
brightens the front of the Vallejo Ferry Building. The
painted metal sculpture is a striking image with bold
primary colors in playful contrast to the classically marine
grey building with white trim and a marine-green roof.
The
newest major art piece by Mr. Bullock to be installed for
public display is a special event for Bay Area residents.
Benbow will be on hand when the towering sculpture is
installed at the Oakland Museum in early August. It is a 30+
foot high “Endless Column.” The sculpture is being moved
from Benbow’s studio in Rodeo.
On Mr. Bullock’s home web page,
www.artnut.com , he shares a story, partly quoted below,
that conveys his inspiration for both the Endless Column and
the bright yellow sculpture that graces his cheerful front
yard.
“Walking
down railroad tracks on a hot Midwest summer day, the tracks
would appear to come together at a vanishing point that kept
moving farther away, as I approached. And a shimmering
mirage of water would float above the tracks, never quite
close enough to touch. On either side of the right of way,
were awkward, ungainly, beautiful sunflowers, as common as
the ubiquitous ragweed, wild
blackberries
and goldenrods that surrounded them… I knew that I wanted to
make a sculpture that combined the beauty of a blooming
sunflower, and the awesomeness of a man made pyramidal
shaped vertical column.”
It is possible to see Benbow Bullock’s work, including
images of other “Endless Columns” and links to more than 200
metal sculpture gardens by logging on to http://www.artnut.com.
Benbow can be contacted at artnut@artnut.com or BENBOW
BULLOCK,SCULPTOR, 12 Sandy Beach Road, Vallejo, CA 94590 T:
(707) 557-2974, F: (707) 554-1234.
