“I love yellow,” sculptor Betty Gold once said. That love is embodied right here in the Soller I sculpture. Have you ever wondered about the story behind this striking piece of art?
Soller I is more than just a sculpture. It is a testament to the vision of Betty Gold. She is an artist known for her large geometric forms. These forms can be found in museum collections across the globe from Madrid to Seoul.
This particular sculpture gets its name from Sóller. Sóller is a town on the Spanish isle of Mallorca. Gold spends a portion of each year there. The sculpture’s sunny color is brilliant. It stands out against any backdrop.
The appearance of Soller I is deceptive. Though it’s crafted from cold rolled steel, its yellow triangles evoke a sense of lightness. They suggest paper caught in a moment of unfolding. It almost seems to float.
Gold’s journey to becoming a sculptor was not a straight shot. She won a beauty pageant and majored in early childhood education. However, by the end of the 1960s, the cultural climate became more encouraging to female artists.
She apprenticed with Dallas sculptor Octavio Medellin. Gold recalls creating an almost life-size terra cotta body piece. In the kiln, everyone else’s sculpture fell over and broke. Only hers remained standing.
In 1977, Gold moved to Los Angeles. This move followed the manufacture of her first monumental sculpture. She was bowled over by the sight of it. It stood twelve feet tall.
Soller I at the South Coast Botanic Garden is made of Cor-Ten steel. The surface weathers naturally to an earthier chocolate. In 2003, John and Marilyn Long funded the installation of Sóller I. It became the first permanent sculpture in the South Coast Botanic Gardens.
Wil Kohl, director of the Walter N. Marks Center for the Arts, finds Gold’s work unusual. He notes that it’s uncommon to find a woman creating sculptures of this scale. Glascock designed three gardens containing yellow pieces by Gold. She finds the work remarkable for its simplicity and sophistication.
The sculptures change hourly. Their angles cast sharp shadows. Yet they also stop time. They offer a freeze-frame of a flower opening or a bird in flight. For Gold, geometry becomes a kind of alchemy. Straight lines transform into curves.
So, as you stand before Soller I, consider the artist’s journey. Think about the materials and the inspiration behind this captivating work. It is a testament to Gold’s unique vision. It is a beautiful addition to our landscape.