It’s 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29, and my eyes are fixated on a giant pair of scissors. It’s not exactly the artwork I came here for, but it’s aesthetically fascinating nonetheless, inviting active participation from the viewer (“Are these scissors really big? Or am I just really small?”).
I’m standing outside Guadalupe City Hall with a medium-sized crowd and, if the Goliath-sized scissors haven’t already given it away, we’re about to witness a ribbon cutting ceremony. The gathering is to celebrate the installation of 19 outdoor sculptures scattered throughout the city, all on loan from the Squire Foundation, a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting public art. The first two sculptures in sight, from where we’re standing, are Blue Couple and Fiddler on the Roof (both are located outside City Hall, 918 Obispo St.).
As soon as the ceremony ends, attendees are offered printed maps of the city, with each sculpture location marked. Let the games begin! For most human beings, almost all of the sculptures are within walking (or at least biking) distance from one another. I think I almost fit into that category, but part of me is leaning toward just jumping back into my car and hopping from place to place. Probably more like half of me. And speaking of half, the first sculpture I trek to is Eddie Cantor: Two Face, followed by Easter Flower (both are located along the walking path at 4550 10th St.).
I’m proud to say I walked to both from City Hall, leaving my lazy-minded, short-cut-scheming Chevy Aveo in the parking lot where it belongs! I’m not taking the easy way out just yet. Looking over the map, I assure myself that my next intended stop, Blue Bird (located outside the Dunes Center, at 1065 Guadalupe St.) is within my reach, if continuing on foot.
If you’re trying to see the most sculptures in a short amount of time, I would recommend strolling up or down (depending where you’re coming from) this road in particular, Guadalupe Street (technically Highway 1). Eight sculptures are located along this route.
After leaving Blue Bird, I locate a gem titled Seed Pod just a few blocks down the road (884 Guadalupe St.). Joy Flower (726 Guadalupe St.) is next, but quite a bit farther. I’m starting to wish I’d brought my scooter or roller skates at this point. But the best is yet to come. My favorite part of the journey turned out to be no more than three blocks after that, where not one, not two, but five different sculptures awaited my arrival (directly across the street from the Guadalupe Hardware Store, 393 Guadalupe St.).
White Dress on Red Woman is the first from my direction, followed by three musician figures simply named after their respective instruments, Tambourine, Violin, and Flute, and last but certainly not least, Freud. That’s right, Sigmund Freud. Definitely my favorite sculpture of the day. My biggest regret was not whipping out my Pokemon Go for a quick photo op. I would have loved to capture a screenshot of Cubone, Pidgey, or Weedle chillin’ on Freud’s shoulder.
Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood is fluent in Freudian slips. Contact him at [email protected].
