GWYNN MURRILL. DEER 1–4.
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Gwynn Murrill.
(American, b. 1942) -
Deer 3 (buck with antlers)
(with Deer 1, Deer 2, and Deer 4) -
2007
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Bronze
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75 x 66 x 35 in.
(190.50 x 167.64 x 88.90 cm) -
In the median strip across the street from the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel at 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067
A reminder of the natural world around us.
On Avenue of the Stars across from the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel, look to the center median to find a group of 4 deer grazing in the grass. A buck with large antlers stands tall while 3 smaller deer graze around him. While the bronze of the animals is darker than a deer’s natural furs, they are stunningly realistic and life-size, adding a touch of wildlife to the urban thoroughfare.
The bronze deer are part of a set made by Murrill initially for an installation in downtown Obihiro, Japan. And, it is not their first appearance on the Avenue of the Stars, as they were formerly a part of Murrill’s larger exhibition from 2012 to 2014, in which she placed a number of realistic animals up and down the avenue. These animals included eagles, tigers, wolves, and more that were meant to be observed by passers-by in their cars. The exhibition offered a unique juxtaposition of natural elements with the modern architecture around them.
Today, the 4 deer, as they currently stand, echo the artist’s initial vision for her work on the Avenue of the Stars. Whether driving or walking, it is possible to miss these bronze creatures as they blend naturally into their new urban habitat. However, to the person who does catch a glimpse of their realistic beauty, Murrill’s work serves as a gentle reminder of the natural world around us, caught for a moment in time, even in the center of a busy street. Listen to Murrill speak about her animal sculptures in the video below.
It is possible to miss these bronze creatures as they blend naturally into their new urban habitat.
SPARK A CONVERSATION.
Murrill’s work intentionally plays with the idea of sight. She has said that her work on the Avenue of the Stars is meant to be seen out of the corner of your eye as you drive past, truly capturing the fleeting moment of sighting a deer in nature.
If viewing the deer on foot, think about how you observe the animals in their static state.
Does this type of encounter echo experiences you have had in nature?
Or does their stillness interrupt the suspension of disbelief that Murrill intended with passive viewership in a car?
Being in Century City and not in the wild, think about the sounds you hear as you observe Murrill’s work.
How do the sounds of the urban landscape contrast with a deer’s natural habitat?