Robert Garrison (sculptor)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2013) |
Robert Ernest Garrison was an American
Garrison studied at the
Garrison worked mainly in stone and bronze. In 1919 he moved to Denver and became a teacher and Director of the Denver Academy of Fine and Applied Arts (which later became the Chappell School and eventually the School of Art of the University of Denver).[1] During his tenure there he taught modeling, drawing and applied design. While in Denver he became acquainted with George William Eggers, the Director of the Denver Art Museum and president of the Municipal Art Commission of Denver.
Garrison received commissions for many of Denver's architectural ornaments in the 1920s, including works for the NRHP-listed
In 1930 Garrison moved to New York City and began completing several projects there. These included the three sculptural panels for the
Additional works include architectural sculptures in the style of medieval
The Denver Botanic Gardens[2] has a terracotta frieze depicting, among things, two hunters with shotguns shooting at a buffalo. This frieze originally was part of the Midland Savings Bank but was removed when the bank was renovated in 1964 and moved to the botanical gardens.
His two monumental molded concrete figures of athletes were integral to the University of Denver's Hilltop Stadium (1926), and were demolished along with the stadium in 1971. A public debate ensued about what should be done with Garrison's 27-foot-high sculpted figures that graced the outside walls. The male and female figures were said to be “The spirit and significance of coeducational college athletics.” As the Hilltop Stadium figures were hollow and considered fragile, they were not saved.
Garrison also designed the
Garrison's work was cited by the
A veteran of World War I, he served overseas in World War I from 14 July 1918 to 22 March 1919. Garrison also enlisted in World War II. He died in 1943 while teaching camouflage painting.
References
- The State Historical Society of Colorado.
- ^ Denver Botanic Gardens
- ^ Winter 2006 University of Denver Magazine
- ^ R. Laurie Simmons; Thomas H. Simmons (March 31, 2011). "National Historic Landmark Nomination: Civic Center Historic District" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2013-07-27.
- ^ R. Laurie Simmons; Thomas H. Simmons (March 31, 2011). National Historic Landmark Nomination: Denver City Center (PDF). History Colorado. Retrieved October 25, 2022.