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More Smithsonian Searches     Who else has...     Palo-Kangas, Uno John,     Portrait male -- Garces, Francisco     Ethnic -- Indian     Ethnic -- Spanish     Occupation -- Religion     Object -- Other     Dress -- Accessory     Object -- Weapon     Outdoor Sculpture -- California -- Bakersfield     Sculpture

Father Garces, (sculpture). Artist:  Palo-Kangas, Uno John, 1903-1958, sculptor. Title:  Father Garces, (sculpture). Other Titles:  Statue of Padre Francisco Garces, (sculpture). Dates:  1938-1939. Dedicated May 7, 1939. 1943. Relocated 1956. Digital Reference:  Medium:  Sculpture: Indiana limestone; Base: purple Carnelian granite. Dimensions:  Overall: approx. H. 22 ft. 5 in.; Sculpture: approx. H. 16 ft. 4 in. (24-26 tons). Inscription:  FRANCISCO GARCES/1738-1781/SPANISH FRANCISCAN/PADRE GARCES SEEKING A NEW/ROUTE BETWEEN SONORA, MEXICO/AND MONTEREY ACROSS RIO DE/SAN FELIPE (KERN RIVER MAY 7 1776) AT RANCHERO MIGUEL, NOW BAKERSFIELD./FIRST RECORDED/WHITE MAN IN THE LOCALITY HE/BROUGHT CHRISTIANITY TO THE INDIANS/AND ON RIO COLORADO HIS BRAVE/LIFE WAS CROWNED WITH MARTYRDOM/GREATER LOVE HATH NO/MAN THAN THIS-THAT A MAN/LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS (...transcription illegible) Description:  Father Francisco Garces stands wearing a Franciscan habit. He holds a wide-brimmed hat and a rosary in his proper left hand and a staff with a cross on top in his proper right hand. The sculpture is mounted on a rectangular base with scenes depicting the life of Father Garces. One scene includes an Indian kneeling in front of an open fire with a bow lying on the ground next to him. Subject:  Portrait male -- Garces, Francisco -- Full length Ethnic -- Indian Ethnic -- Spanish Occupation -- Religion -- Missionary Object -- Other -- Rosary Dress -- Accessory -- Cane Object -- Weapon -- Bow and Arrow Object Type:  Outdoor Sculpture -- California -- Bakersfield Sculpture Owner:  Administered by Kern County, North Chester, Bakersfield, California Located Garces Circle, Chester & Golden Streets, Bakersfield, California Remarks:  The sculpture commemorates Father Francisco Garces (1738-1781), a Spanish missionary, who was the first recorded white man in this locality in 1776. The sculpture cost $25,000 and was funded through local contributions and the Federal Art Project. The sculpture was dedicated on the 163rd anniversary of Father Garces' first visit to the site of Bakersfield. In 1953, the sculpture was moved approximately 100 feet to the south of the Circle to make way for a new overpass. IAS files contain excerpts from Eugene Burmeister's "City Along the Kern," Bakersfield, CA: Kern Publishing House, pg. 18; and Merrill A. Reed's "Historical Statues & Monuments in California." IAS files also contain list of unpublished materials on file at Kern County Library, local history room. References:  Save Outdoor Sculpture, California survey, 1994. Illustration:  Image on file. Burmeister, Eugene, "City Along the Kern: Bakersfield, California, 1869-1969," Bakersfield, CA: Kern Publishing House, pg. 24. Note:  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. Repository:  Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 Control Number:  IAS CA000934   Copy/Holding information Smithsonian AmericanArt Museum Control Number   Inventory of American Sculpture CA000934 Add Copy to MyList Format: HTMLPlain textDelimited Subject:   Email to:

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