1 Savage Rose – Cedar City’s Bicentennial
Originally purchased in 1976 as part of Cedar City’s Bicentennial commemoration, “Savage Rose” was the first piece of what was then referred to as “contemporary sculpture” to be installed in Cedar City. Artist, James DeVore, received the commission to create the work after a lengthy jury process where more than sixty small scale prototypes from artists around the country were evaluated by the Cedar City Arts Committee. Originally installed next to the college’s Science Center, it was removed to storage when that building was remodeled in 1982. It was then brought back into public display and set on a new foundation here in 1991.
2 Savage Rose – Iron County Record, November 1977, Opinion
“Savage Rose” was not universally accepted by the community when it was first installed. This opinion piece ran in the November 18, 1977 edition of the Iron County Record.
“The new sculpture [at Southern Utah State College] has been the object of much controversy, written and unwritten. Some opinions expressed about it seem not to have been taken lightly. So in an endeavor to shed some light on the subject and calm a few troubled minds, I’ll tell you what I’ve learned about it.
Neither the school or community paid any money for the sculpture. It was a gift [from] the Cedar City Art Committee and obtained through a grant administered by the National Endowment for the Arts.
The piece was chosen by a jury from sixty-five other works by different artists. Included in the competition were many other pieces of a more traditional nature but those were not chosen because they did not show the discipline and mastery of the art that was portrayed by the winning sculpture.
I am not fond of the sculpture myself but then, I do not share in the art committee’s concern for your well-rounded education in the arts. However, I can still appreciate the artist’s skill with his tools and mastery of his medium… have a look for yourself and I think you too might respect his abilities.”