Two Dragons, (sculpture).

Two Dragons, (sculpture).

Silva, Pedro, sculptor.

Two Dragons, (sculpture).

Sea Serpents, (sculpture).

Serpent, (sculpture).

Digital Reference:

Ceramic tile set in concrete reinforced with steel rods and wire mesh.

Approx. 12 x 5 x 220 ft.

(In tile on dragon, beneath mouth, under water fountain:) PEDRO/SILVA/AND/COMMUNITY/FOLKS/1981/EASTER signed

The sculpture depicts a huge mother dragon and a baby dragon emerging from the ground. The sculpture is composed of five separate, free-standing arched components, which make up the bodies of the two dragons. The largest arch, the mother's tail, terminates in a long curving bench structure. The surface of the sculpture is covered with ceramic tiles in bright turquoise and primary colors. The tiles form mosaics depicting various cartoon characters, clowns, animals, etc. The undersides of the arches have been painted green. The sculpture was created to be used by children for climbing, sitting, and playing. The mouth of the baby dragon originally functioned as a drinking fountain.

Fantasy -- Monster

Outdoor Sculpture -- Tennessee -- Nashville

Administered by Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County, Board of Parks & Recreation, 2500 West End Avenue, Centennial Park Office, Nashville, Tennessee 37201

Located Fannie Mae Dees Park, Blakemore Avenue & 24th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee

Created by Pedro Silva with the help of volunteers from the community. IAS files contain a related article from Tennessean (Nashville, TN), Dec. 14, 1979, pg. 64, which discusses the commissioning of this piece. For a related article see Leland R. Johnson, "The Parks of Nashville," Metropolitan Nashville & Davidson County Board of Parks and Recreation, 1986, pg. 237.

Treated 1998 September-1999 January. Shelley Resiman Paine Conservation (Nashville, TN). Treatment report on file with conservator and owner.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Tennessee survey, 1992.

Tennessean (Nashville, TN), Dec. 14, 1979, pg. 64.

Johnson, Leland R., "The Parks of Nashville," Metropolitan Nashville & Davidson County Board of Parks and Recreation, 1986, pg. 237.

SOS Assessment Award, 1997.

SOS Achievement Award, 1997.

SOS Conservation Treatment Award, 1999.

SOS Conservation Notification Report, 1999.

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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