Grafton Peace Pagoda with Reliefs, (sculpture).

Grafton Peace Pagoda with Reliefs, (sculpture).

Jennings, Bob, engineer.

Grafton Peace Pagoda with Reliefs, (sculpture).

Dedicated Oct. 1993.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: painted concrete, stone, metal; Pagoda: stone, concrete.

Pagoda: approx. H. 86 ft. x Diam. 64 ft.; Base: approx. H. 10 ft. x Diam. 130 ft.

Domed pagoda made of stone and concrete. Inside a niche on the front of the dome is a high-relief figure of the Buddha seated in lotus position. The pagoda rests on a two-level base of mortared round stones and concrete. Around the facade of the upper base are eleven niches, each holding a bas-relief panel depicting a scene from the life of the Buddha. The first panel depicts Queen Maya dreaming of the Buddha as a white elephant. She is lying on her side on a platform surrounded by several figures with musical instruments and fans. The second panel depicts Queen Maya giving birth to the Buddha. She is standing next to a tree; an attendant stands to her left. The third panel show the Buddha, standing in a lotus flower, surrounded by trees and animals, including a panther, cow, elephant and birds. To the left of the Buddha is the figure of a man praying; to the right is a standing figure holding a wreath. The fourth panel depicts the Buddha riding in a horse-drawn open carriage. Eight other figures populate the scene, including a sick man and attendant, an elderly man, and a corpse on a litter, born by two men in the direction of a funeral pyre. The fifth panel depicts the Buddha leaving the palace in search of enlightenment. He rides a horse and is dressed in fine garments. An attendant holds an umbrella over his head. Three seated figures hold the horse's hooves.

The sixth panel depicts the Buddha donning beggars clothing and cutting his hair. He holds a sword to his hair. On the right is a kneeling figure and a horse. An angel floats above the horse. The seventh panel depicts the Buddha meditating under a tree and achieving enlightenment. He is seated in lotus position and has his eyes closed. Rows of figures on each side of him torment him with clubs and bows and arrows. The eighth panel depicts the Buddha teaching in a park. He is seated in lotus position with his arms crossed against his chest. Two angels hover overhead. Five disciples are seated below and to the left of the Buddha. Three deer are in the lower right corner. The ninth panel depicts a shrine, or temple, flanked by two seated figures. Two angels fly overhead. Below are four standing figures, two on each side of the scene, wearing clothes draped from the waist and holding their hands in prayer in front of them. The tenth panel depicts the Buddha on his death bed. The bed is surrounded by male and female figures, kneeling, standing and praying. The eleventh panel depicts the dispersion of the Buddha's relics to the eight directions. Eight figures holds elaborate urns. Each figure rides an elephant or camel. The figure at the bottom is in a boat. All of the figures are facing away from a central medallion with a lotus motif.

Religion -- Buddhism

Outdoor Sculpture -- New York -- Grafton

Architectural component

Administered by Grafton Peace Pagoda, RD 1, Box 308A, Petersburg, New York 12138

Located Grafton Peace Pagoda, Crandell Road, Grafton, New York

The pagoda was built with volunteer labor over a period of several years. IAS files contain copies of related articles from Times Union (Albany, NY), June 24, 1993 and The Waldo Independent, Aug. 25, 1994. IAS files contain copy of related pamphlet "The Story of the Peace Pagoda".

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New York survey, 1994.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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