The 500 Mile Sculpture Garden
- Program
- The 500 Mile Sculpture Garden
- Producing Organization
- Nebraska Public Media
- Contributing Organization
- Nebraska Public Media (Lincoln, Nebraska)
- AAPB ID
- cpb-aacip-b9e8ca5f7c4
If you have more information about this item than what is given here, or if you have concerns about this record, we want to know! Contact us, indicating the AAPB ID (cpb-aacip-b9e8ca5f7c4).
- Description
- Program Description
- [Description from the original press release] A special hour-long program produced by the Nebraska ETV Network tells the story of Nebraska's controversial Interstate-80 sculptures erected in honor of the Bicentennial year. "Five-Hundred-Mile Sculpture Garden" documents the Nebraska Bicentennial Sculpture Project from its inauguration in 1975, through the building of seven of the sculptures and their dedication on July 4, 1976. The program will air over PBS. The aim of The Nebraska Bicentennial Sculpture Project was to provide Nebraskans and the more than six million visitors who annually travel across Nebraska an opportunity to view some of the best sculptures of our state. The project was planned so that the works of art might contribute to the public's enjoyment and education and also become a distinguished cultural heritage for future generations. The names of the ten sculptors selected in a national competition of more than 120 sculptors from all over America were announced on July 9, 1975 at news conferences in New York City and Lincoln, Nebraska, and photographs of renderings of their proposed works were released to the media for the first time. The designs for the ten enormous sculptures scheduled for permanent placement along the 500 miles of Interstate 80 brought both praise and protest from Nebraskans. Many of Nebraska's citizens were outraged by the abstract designs and the fact that none of the selected sculptors were from Nebraska, statewide investigation into the project was undertaken by the Nebraska Unicameral to determine whether the Legislature should accept the proposed sculptures which were to be placed on public property and maintained by public funds. Public hearings were held at five locations across the state—turning out both pro and con spokesmen, but with the majority responding favorably. On January 14, 1976 the Legislature agreed to accept the sculptures on behalf of the State. The winning sculptors and the U.S. Interstate 80 rest area sites where their sculptures can be viewed are; Richard Field--Platte River (Omaha) east bound; Paul Von Ringelheim—Blue River (Seward/Milford) east bound; Bradford Graves—York west bound; John Raimondi—Grand Island east bound; George Baker—Kearney west bound; Steven Urry—Cozad east bound; Anthony Padovano—Brady (North Platte) west bound; Linda Howard—Ogallala west bound; Hans Van de Bovenkamp—Sidney west bound; and Jerry Rothman-- Kimball east bound. (The program features interviews with all but Baker, Urry and Rothman as their sculptures were not yet begun when this program was produced.) The documentary film looks at the progression of events surrounding the sculpture project from July 1975 to July 1976. The artists' concepts, the controversy, the building of some of the sculptures and the dedication attended by state dignitaries and hundreds of spectators are seen in "Five Hundred-Mile Sculpture Garden." The program was produced by the Nebraska ETV Network with funds and support from the Nebraska Arts Council and Nebraskans for Public Television, Inc. Byron Knight served as producer of the documentary and Tom Speer was the cinematographer/editor, Audio engineer was George Frederick; original music by Dave Buchholz.
- Broadcast Date
- 1976-11-01
- Asset type
- Program
- Genres
- Special
- Documentary
- Rights
- Access to material from Nebraska Public Media’s archival collection is for educational and research purposes only, and does not constitute permission to modify, reproduce, republish, exhibit, broadcast, distribute, or electronically disseminate these materials. Users must obtain permission for these activities in a separate agreement with Nebraska Public Media.
- Media type
- Moving Image
- Duration
- 00:59:21:16
- Credits
-
-
Cinematographer: Speer, Tom
Editor: Speer, Tom
Producer: Knight, Byron
Producing Organization: Nebraska Public Media
- AAPB Contributor Holdings
-
Nebraska Public Media
Identifier: cpb-aacip-ef886f2b789 (Filename)
Format: Betacam: SP
Duration: 00:58:35
If you have a copy of this asset and would like us to add it to our catalog, please contact us.
- Citations
- Chicago: “The 500 Mile Sculpture Garden,” 1976-11-01, Nebraska Public Media, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed September 30, 2025, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-b9e8ca5f7c4.
- MLA: “The 500 Mile Sculpture Garden.” 1976-11-01. Nebraska Public Media, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. September 30, 2025. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-b9e8ca5f7c4>.
- APA: The 500 Mile Sculpture Garden. Boston, MA: Nebraska Public Media, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-b9e8ca5f7c4