The third sculpture in Lubben Plaza, after Harrow and Journey to Sirius is Gateway Stele.

The textures of art, nature, and architecture juxtaposed in the downtown urban setting.

GATEWAY STELE
1994
by Jesus Bautista Moroles
Rockport, Texas

Recalling the ancient post-and-lintel portal form, “Gateway Stele” is made of Fredricksberg granite in a universal statement of civilizations coming together. It is functional, both as a passageway to be walked through, and as a place to remain, sitting on the surrounding natural bench.

Jesus Moroles:

“In my work, I don’t intentionally follow the history of civilization, because I think it is the history of the stone that comes out in forms. The stone has a much longer history than civilization, and it is natural for stone to be used in this way.

The idea for ‘Gateway Stele’ comes from the traditional stele form, which is a monolithic stone with hieroglyphic writing. The posts of this portal have my writing in the patterns of squares cut into the stone. Just as we can’t translate the cryptic messages in the ancient stele, my ‘writing’ has no real translation, but it is meant to be interpreted on a visual basis.”

Gateway Stele

The impact of the portal is somewhat diminished by the fact that it guides the viewer into a parking lot – complete with a little cluster of valet parking attendants standing around smoking.