Abilene?EUR??,,????'?????<
Imagination Comes to Life
This sculpture garden in Abilene, Texas features scenes from Garth Williams?EUR??,,????'?????<
In 2015, the Texas Legislature designated Abilene, Texas, as the Storybook Capital of Texas. In addition to this, the National Center for Children?EUR??,,????'?????<
The Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden was inaugurated on June 8, 2017, with a ribbon cutting and synced with the official start to the Children?EUR??,,????'?????<
As the landscape architect, my job was to create the garden space for these bronzes and associated settings. Being one of the most ambitious sculpture projects Abilene has ever seen, I was stimulated by the challenge.
My idea for the project was that the city needed to create a space that is exciting and playful for kids. I wanted kids to walk through the park and have spaces be revealed, so that, looking across the garden, the sculptures are not all evident.
The Generation Tree was created in honor of the many generous donors and supporters. It symbolizes and celebrates the multiple generations of families that continue to care for the town of Abilene. As with all the tall structures found within the park, the Generation Tree is constructed out of rebar. To further pay homage to the kind supporters, the tree is also surrounded by 8 donor benches, which offer a comfortable and centralized place to sit down.
All of the bronze sculptures located throughout the park were taken specifically from illustrations created by Mr. Williams and had to go through the process of vetting and sanctioning by the estates and families of the illustration owners. In this photo, ?EUR??,,????'?????<
Rebar became the material of choice due to its cost and availability. My team and I designed and created 86 rebar trees that drew lines across the site then we strung in strands of light. Number 6 rebar was used to create the main structure, while number 3 and 4 rebar completed connections and ornaments, as well as being a line for the light strands to affix to.
The lights were a firefly or fairy type of light that was commercial grade with a long life expectancy and the ability to swap out small sections if needed for repairs over time. Supplementing these are spotlights that provided ample light to the pathway, washed tree canopies and sculpture sites. The beauty of this strategy, beyond stimulating the imagination, was that all lighting fixtures were overhead about 10 feet up from any bollards or ground-mounted fixtures.
In keeping with the highly organic form and imagination of the design, each of the light trees had two cross vine plants at the base to grow onto the steel structure over time. I anticipate that, over time, the cross vine will colonize the steel in the high sunlight areas and be less aggressive under the shade of the trees on site.
With so many shade trees that were planted back in the early 1970s, and large trees being somewhat of a precious commodity in West Texas, we made a concerted effort to protect them from damage during the construction. We solicited the volunteer guidance of two local arborists to refine the methodology for the trees.
First to be completed was mapping the branching patterns of the trees, with major canopy areas and limbs measured and mapped on the plan. This was needed to verify and adjust the path of the steel lighted trees that weave through the site and ensure minimal interference with the natural trees. Fencing was erected around the drip lines of all trees except where the pathways were to be excavated. Once the primary landscape contractor, Masterscapes, was hired, radial mulching around each tree was performed by air spading trenches, radiating around the perimeter of each tree and filled with rich organic compost. Tree trimming was necessary to keep young people from climbing into the trees where the branches were low and to help make way for the steel lighting trees to complete their route through the site.
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Artist Steve Neves led the sculpture creation. Mr. Neves is the professor of sculpture for Hardin Simmons University. His colleague Geoff Broderick, professor of sculpture at Abilene Christian University, had the foundry for casting the bronzes. Here, the Three Little Kittens get a scolding from their mother after losing their mittens. Now they are sad because they won?EUR??,,????'?????<
In total, we had to design and fabricate 16 sculptures for the backdrops, install 37 stone block benches with quotes engraved on each, construct about 8 donor recognition stones with bronze or laser cut steel plaques, design and manufacture 86 steel trees, pour concrete for tree piers, backdrops, sculptures and a stage. Lastly, install the site?EUR??,,????'?????<
This project was a herculean effort. It was accomplished by a fantastic team of contractors and volunteers, performing hard work, coupled with a kind donation of services. Engineering, surveying, and contracting services were donated, the Dyess Air Force Base?EUR??,,????'?????<
In the end, Abilene joined together to create something really special. The park showcases wonderful sculptures that represent famous illustrations, in turn, celebrating a child?EUR??,,????'?????<
Considerations: the Cultural Affairs Council, myself (Mitch Wright with Vista Planning & Design), the City Parks and Recreation Department, Dyess Air Force Base and private/public donors.
