Before leaving our nephew’s home this morning we searched for galleries and decided on the Blanton and the LBJ Library for the AM and then the small contemporary galleries in the afternoon. Reading about the Blanton I remembered that Ellsworth Kelley had designed a pagan church here.
Originally conceived in 1987 for a private vineyard in California, he gave the plans to the University of Texas and renamed the piece “Austin.” The 2,715-square-foot stone structure, stained glass and interior artworks are inspired by the many churches Kelly visited in France and draw from religious themes in art history. Reminiscent of the Romanesque style, twin barrel vaults intersect at right angles. Its floor plan is known as a Latin cross. The exterior limestone is from Alicante, Spain.
A freestanding, 18-foot-tall wooden Totem sculpture commands attention at the end of the main aisle. The location, form, and material allude to the cross normally placed at this spot in a church. Like all the artist’s Totems, the form also recalls ancient Greek figurative sculptures. Made from California old-growth redwood logged in the 19th century and salvaged from the bottom of a riverbed. The stained glass windows reflect light differently depending on the time of day and season. The 14 square panels are Kelly’s abstract versions of the Stations of the Cross, a series of scenes that depict the story of the crucifixion.
Kelly masterfully abstracted the Christian church and its symbols. Unfortunately he died before Austin’s completion so he never saw it. I can’t say we saw it either. They were rebuilding the weighty entry door and the building was closed. Made of repurposed native Texas live oak, it needed some repairs. We were only able to walk around the building and imagine.