Paris to Woodstock: Sculpture Deep and Light

Travel and art seem to go hand in hand, so today I share two very different works, in two very different places, that trigger very different emotions.

The Burghers of Calais at Musée Rodin, Paris
Photo credit: L. Tripoli

Auguste Rodin’s Burghers of Calais commemorates the leaders of Calais who volunteered to be executed to spare the city of Calais during the 100 Years War between England and France. Heavy stuff. What I like is that they are presented as one of us, at our level, not elevated on a pedestal, even though these particular leaders actually do deserve to be admired. Ultimately, the burghers were saved from execution by Queen Philippa of England who persuaded her spouse, Edward III, to spare the burghers because of the bad juju that would be generated.

A rainbow-bright sculpture at street level in Woodstock, N.Y.
Photo credit: M. Ciavardini

As intense and brooding as the Burghers makes me, a bright sculpture by Shelley Parriott in Woodstock, N.Y. fills me with peace, hope, and rainbow-bright happiness. I marvel at the different emotions inspired by these two very different works, separated by time, distance, space, and—perhaps—outlook.

—Lori Tripoli