Cast bronze figures mounted on an internal steel skeleton on a polished black granite base
Type:
Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture
Sculptures
Owner/Location:
Administered by Kanawha Valley Bank, N.A Marketing Division P. O. Box 1793 Charleston West Virginia 25326
Located Kanawha Valley Bank, N.A One Valley Square Summers & Lee Streets Charleston West Virginia 25301
Date:
Dedicated Aug. 29, 1981
Notes:
Save Outdoor Sculpture, West Virginia survey, 1992.
Charleston Daily Mail (Charleston, WV), Aug. 29, 1981.
Image on file.
Charleston Daily Mail (Charleston, WV), Aug. 29, 1981, pg. 1.
(Plaque, front of base:) CABRIOLE/JIMILU MASON, SCULPTOR (AMERICAN)/GIFT OF THE/KANAWHA VALLEY BANK/INSTALLED 29 AUGUST 1981/CABRIOLE IS A 12-FT X 15-FT/CAST BRONZE GROUP OF THREE MALE/DANCERS PERFORMING A CABRIOLE LEAP/EACH FIGURE WEIGHS 600 LBS. unsigned
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.
Summary:
Three male dancers executing a dance step known as the "cabriole," a full body leap. The dancers have their arms fully extended to the side as they leap into the air with both legs held closely together. The dancers wear only tights and are unclothed from the waist up. They look similar, but each is different in the facial expressions, position of the legs, surface texture, surface modeling, and anatomical features. The center dancer is the only one of the three that is attached to the base. The two flanking dancers are suspended above the base and are attached to the center dancer through the arms.
The proper left hand of the center dancer touches the chest of the dancer to his left. The proper right hand of the center dancer touches the proper left shoulder of the figure to his right. The two flanking figures' hands touch. These three points of attachment serve as the support for the two flanking figures. The dancers are mounted atop a large area of polished black granite which reflects the shapes of the dancers. Around the perimeter of the granite base are shrubs, some of which conceal lights.
