Prizes! (The 1st five stars on the Jesus Crisis Walk of Fame awarded!)
[originally posted 17 December 2007 on MySpace]
Current mood: sneezy
Category: Parties and Nightlife

Congratulations!

Five people correctly identified the sculpture in this photograph from my recent blog What or Who Is It?

It's called Prodigal Son, by artist Leonard Baskin.

I took this photo in Chattanooga this past summer at a sculpture garden overlooking the Tennessee River near the Hunter museum.

For a little insight into the piece, I offer this excerpt from The Sculpture of Leonard Baskin (by Irma B. Jaffe, 1980):

"Leonard Baskin is highly acclaimed for his sculpture, which he considers his major life work. He has remained committed to the traditional techniques of carving and modeling and continues to consider the human figure as the primary motif for sculpture. It is this strength of purpose, this devotion to theme and material, and this consistency of quality and intent, that underline the sculpture and make it universal in meaning and effect.

In 1976, he modeled Prodigal Son, with father and son embracing in accordance with the biblical story. Baskin has intensified the union of the figures beyond the mutually embracing arms, bringing them together in wrappings of the garments. Here the wrapping motif serves two iconographical meanings; the two figures are literally bound together by bonds of love...."

And the five savvy souls who named this sculpture are (in order):

Susannah Dean

Susanabodanna

LisaTx65

Sidhabhair

and Kelly

Since this is a cyber-contest, I thought it fitting to offer cyber-prizes.  And here they are: a personalized cyber-scroll recognizing your excellent accomplishment, as well as a star on the Jesus Crisis walk of fame.

(Right click your images to save them to your computer.  Or visit my Photobucket album to grab their HTML codes.)

An honorable mention goes to Elena for identifying the artist without knowing the piece.

I'd also like to offer kudos to everyone who recognized the father-son motif!

And then there are the über-imaginative souls who came up with interpretations that were by turns striking, hilarious, and superbly insightful.  Picking a "best" among you has proven to be next to impossible for me.  And so, by the power vested in me by - well - me, I declare all of you winners!

So I am offering one further prize to everyone who participated in the contest.  That prize (such that it is) will be announced in a blog later today, or as soon as I have time.

And once again...

Congratulations to all!

Currently listening : I Wish We All Could Win By The Afters Release date: 22 February, 2005