Noted sculptor Glenna Goodacre to premier new works at JRB at the Elms in Oklahoma City
FROM STAFF REPORTS | Published: May 31, 2012 | Modified: May 31, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Glenna Goodacre, “America’s Sculptor,” is previewing several new works at JRB Art at the Elms, 2810 N Walker. The exhibition runs through June 30.
The artist will be in attendance at the JRB Art at The Elms’ 8th Annual Prix de West Brunch 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., June 10.
One Goodacre's new works, created in 2012, is a 10-foot bronze of “Spotted Tail” and another a 3-foot bronze of a young ballet dancer. The exhibition will also feature some of the most celebrated and beloved sculptures created throughout her career including 31 bronze miniature sculptures mounted on acrylic and bronze pedestals and 19 bronze portrait reliefs.
In public, private, municipal and museum collections across America, Glenna Goodacre’s bronze sculptures are known for their life-like, compelling expression, rich texture and dramatic composition.
“Her work captures the essence of the human spirit that reaches out, touches us and draws us to it,” says gallery director, Joy Reed Belt. “People can walk up and touch them; they want to look in the eyes.” This appeal is a defining characteristic of Goodacre’s sculpture, she said.
Goodacre is known for her design of the Sacagawea gold dollar coin. After a nationwide competition in 1999, Goodacre’s rendering for the face of the coin was unveiled at the White House by Hillary Clinton. Continuously minted since 2000 to the present, the dollar currently is being re-released with a new reverse featuring Native American themes.
After creating Sacajawea and Jean Baptiste’s faces for the gold dollar, Goodacre created a full 8-foot three-dimensional sculpture honoring the intrepid Shoshone Indian interpreter who accompanied Louis and Clark’s remarkable expedition to explore the American West in 1805. The City of Edmond purchased Sacajawea which will be installed at Hafer Park in Edmond later this year.
In 2010, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sacagawea Dollar, Goodacre’s historic studies and designs for the coin were added to the Smithsonian Numismatic Collection in Washington, D.C.
Perhaps her most well-known work, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial was installed in Washington, D.C. in 1993. Goodacre also was selected in 1997 to create the monumental Irish Memorial in Philadelphia. Completed and installed at Penn’s Landing in 2003, the massive bronze is her most ambitious public sculpture — with 35 life-size figures.
In 1998, her 8-foot standing portrait of Ronald Reagan was unveiled at the Reagan Library in California and another cast is in the permanent collection of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
In 2004, her heroic bronze portrait of legendary West Point Coach Col. Earl “Red” Blaik was dedicated at the National College Football Hall Of Fame, soon to move to a new museum in Atlanta, Georgia. She has created over 50 bronze portraits.
In 2002, her work won the James Earl Fraser Sculpture Award at the Prix de West Exhibition. Goodacre was a best-selling artist with the Prix de West for 27 years and three of her sculptures will be in the 2012 Prix de West.
