Image Credit: (Top left) Equality, 1970, Bronze, 48 x 24 x 22 inches, Collection of Newcomb Barger and Illia Barger; (Top Right) Twin Cusps, 1980, Cast Bronze, 21 ½ x 7 7/8 x 7 7/8 inches, Gift of Marvin L. and Victoria Lee Miller; Pendulum, 1980, Bronze, 20 ¼ x 8 ¼ x 7 7/8 inches, Gift of Marvin L. and Victoria Lee Miller; (Bottom Right) Warped Wheel, 1983, Bronze, 16 x 24 x 5 ½ inches, Collection of Newcomb Barger and Illia Barger; (Bottom Left) Scribes, 1981, Bronze, 20 x 12 x 9 ¾ inches, Gift of Marvin L. and Victoria Lee Miller.
On July 20th, the Michener Art Museum opened the first solo exhibition of Barger’s work entitled, The Poetry of Sculpture: Raymond Granville Barger (1906–2001). The installation includes objects from the Museum’s permanent collection along with works from private collections rarely available to the public, making this a must-see exhibition. Barger’s works from the 1930s provide insight into his early classical approach, while later sculptures signal his development as a symbolic abstractionist as well as a technical innovator. The Poetry of Sculpture features works both inside and outside the museum, encouraging visitors to explore the Michener’s sculpture gardens as well as its galleries.
Raymond Barger (1906-2001) believed that artists and sculptors should work hand in hand with architects and industrial leaders, shaping the contemporary scene. A graduate of the Carnegie Institute of Technology and Yale University School of Fine Arts, Barger moved to Carversville, Pennsylvania in 1966, where he and his wife, Lilias, had a significant impact on the region’s cultural landscape for many years.
While best-known for his monumental outdoor sculptures, including works for the 1964 New York World’s Fair, Barger also created smaller-scale, more intimate works for interior spaces. His Transition, a 25-foot long bronze sculpture originally commissioned for the J. C. Penny Headquarters Building in New York City in 1965, has graced the Museum’s entry courtyard since the year after the museum opened in 1988.
The Poetry of Sculpture: Raymond Granville Barger (1906–2001) is on display through October 20th. Make time in your schedule to come explore this amazing exhibit!
I met him at a door 1998-1999 not really sure. His Sculptures that he showed me on his back balcony I believe was called Evolution of The Universe and Us Within, ? I think?. 4 sculptures and a hole in each piece. I remember them as brass. I have been drawing ovals and thinking about them for years. The last the holes were bigger as I looked at them and in the fourth Sculptures I saw a tiny hole and I now finally remember what he said to me. I did not know Raymond Barger but his work on his patio made Huge Impression on me. I was hoping I could just see these again. You can read about him. I would like to read more if I can.
Any Info would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Jacob Faulkner.
Typos in there sorry
Small hole in the first, Medium hole in the second, large hole in the third, and the fourth Sculpture had a Tiny hole.
I respect his Work!
I bought my first house, in Stamford, CT from him,and his son Newcomb(guitar maker). It was a great house with a thirty ft tall room,he designed the house, (he’d been and architect.) and he gave me a copy of a magazine an article was about him on the cover the magazine I believe was “House and Garden”the article was called “Homes for all America” because it was from just post war. He said Frank Llyod Wright had come to visit him at the house and he’d shown Frank his plans (the house originally was designed to go over the river” though he never finished the second side due to issues with wetlands permits I believe) it did abut the water by only a few feet and actually did have a system that if the river overflowed there was a “trap door” and a drain,to allow the water to drain out completely!(And it worked!) The 30ft tall sculpture room was all concrete floor with a heat system inside the concrete floor ,and was tipped slightly towards that far corner so the water would recede quickly and intentionally out the drain and trap door! I only met him when my then husband and I closed on the house.He was moving to California, and his son and his grandaughter were all moving out there. I recall his grandaughter came back a few times to visit us as her grandmother’s ashes were thrown in the river there.(Elizabeth Barger I think it was, there was a small brass sign next to the river) Newcomb’s wife ex -wife Julie, I believe it was had moved with their daughter earlier to California so basically they all ended up out there. I bought the house around 1983 . I remember Raymond recited his poetry, showed us his portfiolio ,he was quite a character! After we had diner with Newcomb his son a a Japanese Sushi place, in Greenwich, CT.