The Spanish horseman who has conquered El Paso, Texas finally made his triumphant entrance into the city on Friday, April 28, 2006. He was late. People had been expecting him since 1998.He had been on the trail for more years than expected, in a journey that took him from Mexico City, into the American Rockies of Colorado and Wyoming.* Along the way he faced many challenges, including those from some who had tried to kill him. And so it was an especially gratifying moment, that day last spring when he rode into town.
But this particular Spaniard and his stallion, who had traveled thousands of miles over many years to get here, didn't arrive amid crimson banners flying and golden sunlit trumpets blaring. No, he rode into the city, unceremoniously, atop a flatbed truck. That's because this "Equestrian" is a statue.
El Paso Times PhotoSculptor John Houser with a portion of his unassembled Oñate Monument on a flatbed trailer
Originally designed as a tribute to Don Juan de Oñate, his historical reputation as explorer and conquistador turned out too unsavory for many to honor comfortably. History can be messy. History can be brutal. So rather than stir up unpleasant realities as history sometimes does, Oñate simply morphed into the more innocuous "Equestrian."
But controversy of Oñate's reputation, as well as the time delays and cost overruns aren't all that have evolved around this statue. It's stature grew as well. Originally 21 feet in height, The Equestrian has grown to 36 feet! When installed atop its base, it will stand four and one half stories in height. It will be the largest equestrian statue in the world.
As Arlene Raven said in 1993 in an introduction to Art in the Public Interest, "Art isn't a hero on a horse anymore." Apparently El Paso didn't get the message. Sometime between now and next April on its unveiling date (another controversy), the world's largest equestrian statue will join other such equestrian notables as Marcus Arelius, George Washington, Simon Bolivar and Ulysses S. Grant.
It is sad to think Oñate, this huge man/horse tribute, will join the ranks of the above as simply "The Equestrian." The most imposing effort in the world will stand just outside the entrance to El Paso's International Airport. And because of its massive magnitude, it will be impossible to miss. Save, of course--hopefully, for the arriving and departing low flying aircraft.
*site of the foundries that crafted him.
7 comments:
so if it's the largest horse statue
then it's the largest horse's ass
humm, related to baby bush??
Hi az: In writing this, I did some research. This is a story that I have been intrigued by for years. One of the things I came across in discussion of this enormous equestrian was the following:
"On the other hand, jokesters seem to be focusing on the size of the horse's genitals, and what it will be like to gaze up at them from underneath."
Obviously, I chose to forego such colorful descriptiveness, mostly because this is the sensation I have had for the past six years, almost, standing beneath the Bush administration's big balls of tiny penised men, amazed at this nation's tremendous capacity to continually accept their screwing.
But that was exactly what I was trying to avoid with today's post. Of course, that's NOT really possible is it? ESPECIALLY in light of current news that continues to unfold and affect ALL of us.
I just bet the Chevron oil tanker is sooo glad to be out of the country.
So, Dada...you got your Zorro mask ready to sneak out to the airport under cover of darkness to lop off an oversized foot? I mean, fair IS fair. Just going to be a neat trick to pull off, considering you'd need a large concrete saw and about five hours.
!Viva la revolucion!
mel: I wonder if that rumor I heard was true about the reason ol' Oñate grew from 21' to 36'? To get his 'oots' a little more inaccessible?
And now that you've delineated exactly what would be req'd to successfully complete such surgery, I'm wondering if maybe that's the REAL reason they placed Oñate under the 24 hour vigilant eye of the travelling public?
In the word's of our president, one can never be safe enough.
Anonymous quoted "On the other hand, jokesters seem to be focusing on the size of the horse's genitals,"
For starters I'd estimate about beanbag chair sized testicles, use your imagination for the rest based on that scale :)
Since the few photos dont show, either editors are censoring "unmentionables" in the photos from the angle of view, or the horse is a mare.
Anon: Maybe Oñate's on a mare, in an effort to conserve bronze?
A very big horse makes for very big poop and very big poop calls for a very big scoop. There is such a scoop called PALETTA GRANDE in Grand Rapids, Michigan that perhaps can be of service.
http://palettagrande.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pietro_sorrento
PALETTA GRANDE is currently in use by Da Vinci's American Horse, at 24 feet high now only the second largest equestrian statue in the world.
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