Gilgal, (sculpture).

Gilgal, (sculpture).

Child, Thomas B., 1888-1963, sculptor.

Brooks, Maurice Edmund, 1908-1970, assistant.

Higgs, Bryant H., assistant.

Goss, Henry, assistant.

Child, Robert, assistant.

Gilgal, (sculpture).

Quartzite, concrete, stone, firebrick, bronze, wrought iron, lead, and granite.

Overall site: approx. 18,000 square ft.

Gilgal Sculpture Garden is a half-acre environment, consisting of fourteen sculptural groupings, sited in a residential backyard. Subjects depicted include portraits, figures, a cross and other objects, as well as several inscription stones quoting from the Bible, Book of Mormon, Thomas Carlyle, and other authors. Site 1 "Gilgal" includes an inscription stone beyond which is a circle of 12 stones, representing the stones of each of the 12 tribes of Israel. In the center of the circle is a grapevine which represents Joseph. Beyond is an approximate 30 foot high rock upon which is carved in relief a headless heavenly messenger standing with his sword unsheathed. Site 2 "Sacrifice" contains a rock foundation upon which three overlapping slabs of rock (symbolizing the Trinity) are placed to form an altar. A stone bowl, shaped like an ancient lamp (the Lamp of Truth), is at one end; a brick furnace is at the other end.

Site 3 "Restored Church" is an Egyptian Sphinx with the face of Joseph Smith carved on it, an elevation view of the Mormon Temple (Salt Lake City), and the Big Dipper constellation. Six inscription stones, including quote from Brigham Young, surround the sphinx. Site 4 "Patio" consists of granite and quartzite boulders, which function as seats, and a bronze plaque on back of Heavenly Messenger rock (from site 1), which gives references to whom the yard is dedicated; lists ancestors of Child and his wife; and acknowledges the Watson Brothers who taught Child his trade.

Site 5 "Daniel II" depicts King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a large giant emerging from a mountain, topped by a boulder, which comes down to destroy him. It symbolizes the end of all man made kingdoms. The giant is made of carved stone, with iron and brass parts. Site 6 "Job" is a large boulder with Job's words sandblasted and carved into it, and filled with lead.

Site 7 "Work" for the Dead is part of a larger "mountain" complex of sculpture and inscriptions. In the small cave are carved two human hearts (one white, one red) and the last verse of the Old Testament. Originally there were two hands coming out of the top of the cave, representing the hands of Elijah and the Prophet. One of the arms was stolen; the other vandalized. The red heart symbolizes life; the white heart death, references to the genealogy work and work for the dead done by the LDS Church.

Site 8 "Work" is a niche constructed to shelter a full-length standing portrait of Thomas B. Child. He holds the Scripture in his proper right hand; blueprints in his proper left hand. At his right side is a picture of the Tenth Ward (where he was Bishop for 19 years); at his left side are tools of his trade, including a blacksmith's anvil. The monument is a tribute to the trade of brick masonry. Text includes quotes by Thomas Carlyle ("First the toil worn craftsman...").

Site 9 "Peace" is comprised of an iron trellis of 14 crossed spears of painted wrought iron sited about halfway up a large boulder. Each spear has been turned into a pruning hook to symbolize peace on earth. The three rocks immediately below the plowshares have carved inscriptions from Psalms, Proverbs and Isaiah. Site 10 "Death" is taken from Ecclesiastes and includes, set in the mountain complex, a niche with a small well, whose wheel is missing so that the water of life cannot be drawn; a quartzite carving of a man's head with receding hair and decaying teeth, a quartzite grasshopper (symbol of death), and a broken quartzite pitcher. There is also a silhouette of a house with doors and windows closed and a square knot (symbol of the end of life).

Site 11 "Priesthood" includes a rock arch formation with a keystone with letters Alpha and Omega on it (symbolic of Christ's words: I am the beginning and the end). The granite boulders are for recorded messengers who helped restore the Gospel to the earth, such as Peter, James, John, Elijah and Moses. Cast books include The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price. On the other side of the arch of stones, cast spires represent the keys of the Priesthood and a modern angel Moroni appears on the top. Inside the arch are large stone eagles taken from the old Bambergur Railroad Station. A small niche at the left includes a garden for the artist's wife. Site 12 "Love" includes a portrait bust of the artist's wife: Bertha Rumel Child (1891-1966). Site 13 "Christ" includes three large boulders which lead to a flagstone niche with Child's hands carved in quartzite and a large cross. Site 14 "Nature" is a cave with a waterfall, driftwood, petrified wood, and lava stone.

Religion -- Mormonism

Religion -- Old Testament -- Genesis

Literature -- Carlyle

Portrait male -- Smith, Joseph -- Head

Portrait male -- Child, Thomas B. -- Full length

Emblem -- Masonic

Religion -- New Testament -- Christ

Portrait female -- Child, Bertha Rumel -- Bust

Outdoor Sculpture -- Utah -- Salt Lake City

Administered by Salt Lake City, Department of Public Services, Park Maintenance Division, 1965 West 500 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84104

Located Gilgal Sculpture Garden 749 East 5th Street, Salt Lake City, Utah

Formerly administered by H.P. & F. J. Fetzee Company, 453 South 8th East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

Gilgal represents the education, religion, and culture of creator Thomas B. Child, a self-educated stonemason and contractor and retired Latter-Day Saints bishop. Child began work on the garden in the early 1940s, as a means of self-expression. Although the bulk of the work was done ca. 1945-1955, he was still working on it in 1963 when he died. Others who assisted include carver Maurice Edmund Brooks, Robert Child (son of Thomas Child), Henry Goss, and Bryant H. Higgs, son-in-law of Child's and trainer of other stonecutters who assisted on the project. In July 200, the Friends of Gilgal Garden (FOGG) purchased the the Gilgal Sculpture Garden for $600,000 and donated it to Salt Lake City. The Gilgal Sculpture Garden opened as a public park in Oct. 2000. IAS files include detailed descriptions of each of the 14 sculptural sites, including inscriptions, and a copy of the Gilgal Visitor's Guide, which supplies titles for each site. IAS files also contain copies of related clippings from Salt Lake Tribune, July 24, 1992, D-1, D-5 and NEO (May-June 1988): pg. 9-12.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Utah survey, 1994.

Inventory staff, 2000.

SOS Assessment Award, 2000.

SOS Conservation Treatment Award, 2001.

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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