Sunday, January 15, 2012

Court of the Penquins


This has long been one of my favorite sculptures, found on the Country Club Plaza.  I have taken many photos of the trio but have never been satisfied.  Yesterday while on the Plaza I was determined to get a shot I liked.  I have two and am asking which you like best, I like the top one lots but also really like the second : )

The Court of the Penquins by Arthur Kraft was reproduced to life size in 1979 after the artists death from cancer in 1977.  They were originally 3-4 inches high miniatures.  Kraft began his training at the Nelson Gallery of Art (now The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art) when he was young.  At 13 he started selling his work at local art fairs.  He continued his education at the Kansas City Art Institute and Yale University of Fine Art.  After time in the Army during WWII he finished his degree at Yale and in 1946 won the Audubon Artist Society national painting award.  He spent most his life in Kansas City.

15 comments:

Birdman said...

Looks like a happy spot in any weather.

Jack said...

These penguins prompt many smiles, I'll bet. I know what you mean about having favorite sculptures that you just can't photograph to your satisfaction. These are wide apart and have lots of commercial stuff behind them, making a clean group shot difficult. I have a favorite sculpture at the Jewish Community Center that I have probably shot a dozen times and have never shown because I can't get it just right. (I think I prefer the bottom, vertical shot.)

Sharon said...

I can see why these would be a favorite. They do make you smile. I love how smoothly they were sculpted making you want to touch the satiny surface. I think I like the bottom shot the best. There is so much movement in the each sculpture, I can see it is had to capture all of that with them spaced so far apart from each other.

Curlykale said...

The bottom picture' seals' it for me.
love the idea. Ck

Sonya @ Under the Desert Sky said...

What fun sculptures!

Anonymous said...

I can see why it would be a favorite it is full of delight and whimsy!

RedPat said...

Great fun! I like the bottom one too!

Randy said...

Love them to pieces!

Halcyon said...

Very cute! I don't think anyone could pass these without breaking into a smile.

Lorelle said...

They really do bring a smile to my face! My kids would LOVE them too!!

cieldequimper said...

I can see why it's one of your favourites, it's brilliant!!! I'm trying to imagine the miniatures!

Taken For Granted said...

Both the shots are good, but if I was forced to pick one it would be the bottom picture. There is a sense of movement in the penguins and the background is less distracting. I've always liked this sculpture also.

Tanya Breese said...

oh i love these...i've always adored penguins! both are great shots but i am leaning towards the second!

Lynette said...

My favorite is the second photo, Regina. Enjoyed browsing through your recent posts!

Karl said...

Very nice these penguins, great shots!