5. Range Rider of the Yellowstone, by William S. Hart
I first love this sculpture, because it is home, a cowboy with his horse, perched on the Rimrocks above the city of Billings. Second because, if you are a visitor at dusk, you might actually think this range-rider and his steed are taking a break while rustling cattle. Third because sculpture is often more inspiring by location. The different views in this location take you from Eastern, desert prairie to sandstone bluffs in the north, the sharp Beartooth Mountains to the West, rolling pine-covered hills to the east, the bright city lights and fast and wide Yellowstone River below. It is like the cowboy might be looking at all corners of the earth, from this one, lonesome spot.
It reminds me of the old McDonalds playgrounds that used to have the Hamburgler and Grimace statues, but, of course in a more sophisticated manner.
3. Controller of the Universe by by Damián Ortega,takes hundreds of man's common tools and places them in suspension, mid-explosion, in front of a brightly lit, white room that lets you see time stopping in so many ways. There are thousands of themes that could be derived from this, but it is also stunningly beautiful, strikingly scary, and visually mind-blowing.
2. Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss by Antonio CanovaIf you've ever felt that true love and passion that exudes from this work, you know what it is and what it means. It is based on the Roman story, (from wikipedia): where, envious and jealous of the beauty of a mortal girl named Psyche, Venus asks her son Cupid to use his golden arrows while Psyche sleeps, so that when she awakes, Venus would have already placed a vile creature for her to fall in love with. Cupid finally agrees to her commands after a long (and losing) debate. As he flies to Psyche's room at night, he turns himself invisible so no one can see him fly in through her window. He takes pity on her, for she was born too beautiful for her own safety. As he slowly approaches, careful not to make a sound, he readies one of his golden arrows. He leans over Psyche while she is asleep and before he can scratch her shoulder with the arrow, she awakens, startling him, for she looks right into his eyes, despite his invisibility. This causes him to scratch himself with his arrow, falling deeply in love with her. He cannot continue his mission, for every passing second he finds her more appealing. He reports back to Venus shortly after and the news enrages her. Venus places a curse on Psyche that keeps her from meeting a suitable husband, or any husband at that. As she does this, it upsets Cupid greatly, and he decides as long as the curse stays on Psyche, he will no longer shoot arrows, which will cause Venus' temple to fall.
Beyond the story, there is just something here that I can't help but look at and, feel exactly what each are feeling, connect to the story, full of love, longing, softness, and heartache, and develop all those emotions myself.
1. Michelangelo's David
I'm not one to exclude something for popularity, and there is a reason why this sculpture costs $30 to see. It is perfection. This picture is worthless, as are the replicas around Florence. All I can say is you can't imagine what this artwork is, it must be seen. Only then can you appreciate the form of each part of the body, the strength, confidence, and pride of David. He is my vision of perfection. When I think of beauty I hear David repeated in my head. When I saw him, I was lost, transfixed in his facets for hours without even knowing.
