LiVE MAGAZINE VOL 8, Issue #195 October 31st THRU November 14th, 2014

14
New Horizon
Sharing Art Without Boundaries
By Angela Romeo
photos by Steve Tanguy
I am a supporter of art in public places. Even when the prevailing winds were
not favorable, art in public places is my passion. On Wednesday, October 22,
2014, a significant piece of art was airlifted into a very public place.
“New Horizon” is the work of internationally known abstract sculptor Bruce
Beasley. The sculpture is a 3700-pound granite carved bench. Local resident
Bradford W. Bates, with one small stipulation, gifted the piece to the Palm
Springs Art Museum. “I wanted to contribute something to, not just the Palm
Springs Art Museum, but to Palm Springs. I wanted a piece that embodies
the love, openness and creativity that is truly the heart of Palm Springs. This
unique sculpture embodies those ideals. Equally important, I wanted this gift
to be for all – my dream was to place this work at the top of the tram. The
tram is an iconic landmark and is frequented by residents and visitors. To me,
this is the home for ‘New Horizon,’” stated Mr. Bates.
Getting the sculpture from the PS Art Museum to its permanent home at the
tram was no small feat. “We often say in the gallery, that moving art is like
herding cats, not as simple as one thinks,” joked Alec Longmuir, Art Director
at Melissa Morgan Fine Art Gallery. “Bringing Bradford and Bruce together
was synergistic. The work immediately spoke to Bradford. Patron and Artist
have the same mind when the permanent home for the piece was discussed.
The significance of the gift and its location spoke to Mr. Beasley. It is a fitting
to tribute to his artistic legacy as well as that of Palm Springs.”
To relocate the granite abstract bench Swanson Aviation Group, based in
Glendale Oregon, was contracted. Pilot Adam Tate, who has over 10 years of
experience, was brought in to fly the piece to its new home. “The total flight
time, from lift off to placement of the sculpture, will be about ten minutes,” said
Tate.” It was essential to choose the correct time of day for the flight. This had
to be done early in the day, when the temperatures are cooler and when the
winds are slight. Wind is always a consideration.”
“This is the first time Swanson has moved art work. The Kaman K-MAX
helicopter with intermeshing rotors built in 2003 and one of only 38 such
helicopters in the world, was selected. It can move loads up to 6,000 pounds,”
said Jim Allen of Swanson Aviation. “We did not need to file a flight plan but
this move did require many hours of preplanning.”
“New Horizon “now sits at an elevation of 8500 feet. The inscription reads,
“Palm Springs: A place to freely live, design, and love. A place where we can
be who we thought we could never be. A healing and holy place for the entire
world to see.”
Angela Romeo is the producer /host of COLLIDING WORLDS TV and COLLIDING
WORLDS RADIO. For more information visit: www.collidingworldstvandart.com
Colliding Worlds TV is available on YouTube at
www.youtube.com/user/AngelaValenteRomeo
or at Colliding Worlds Vimeo:
www.vimeo.com/collidingworldstv
Colliding Worlds TV broadcasts on KPSE (MY 13 Palm Springs California) Saturdays
at noon and Thursdays at 6:30 am
Colliding Worlds Radio, broadcasts and live streams weekly,
Saturday from 11 am to 12 pm on KPSF 1200 AM (Money Radio 1200)
Colliding Worlds is now on KMIR (Palm Springs)Saturday at 5 am and on KPSE
Thursday (Palm Springs) at 6:30 am
CW Radio podcasts are available at
www.collidingworldstvandart.com