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Memories in bronze
By Diane Heldt
The Gazette
diane.heldt@gazettecommunications.com
IOWA CITY - Sculptor Larry Nowlan's latest creation honoring University of Iowa football legend Nile Kinnick had to be hauled into Iowa City on a flatbed truck.
``This piece is giant,'' Nowlan, a Vermont artist, said. ``This is incredibly complex compared to the first Kinnick sculpture. Absolutely it's the most complicated work I've done, both technically and creatively.''
The bronze sculpture he was speaking about, measuring 20 feet long, 10 feet high and 4 feet deep, shows Kinnick scoring a famous winning touchdown against Notre Dame in 1939.
It was installed several weeks ago inside the south grandstand concourse at Kinnick Stadium but has been kept under wraps. Tentative plans have called for it to be unveiled this weekend during UI Homecoming festivities.
UI folks who have seen the finished piece described it as stunning and breathtaking, said Rick Klatt, associate athletics director for external affairs.
``It's very, very well done,'' Klatt said.
Nowlan, 42, also made a 12-foot statue of Heisman Trophy winner Kinnick with a book in his right arm and jersey slung over his left shoulder. That work was installed at the stadium's south plaza last fall.
But this second piece was a whole different beast, Nowlan said.
It depicts 11 figures -- 10 players and a referee -- from the 1939 game against top-ranked Notre Dame, which Iowa won, 7-6.
``I've been looking at that picture since November 2004 almost on a daily basis,'' Nowlan said.
The sheer size and complexity of the sculpture meant that after Nowlan created the piece in clay, it had to be cast in bronze in about 60 different pieces that were then assembled. A steel structure was needed to support the back of the massive piece, he said.
Nowlan, a Philadelphia native and big sports fan, said he enjoyed bringing Kinnick's legend to life with the sculpture, and that the two UI projects were a natural fit for him. He added he would love to work with the UI again some day.
His other commissions include one from TV Land in 2000 to do a sculpture of Jackie Gleason, installed in Manhattan at a Port Authority bus terminal.
To prepare for the Kinnick pieces, Nowlan read about Kinnick and watched DVDs and an ESPN SportsCentury segment about the man.
Nowlan said he will be on hand for the unveiling.
``It's got to be one of the most beautiful entrances of any college stadium,'' he said. ``There's not a larger, more comprehensive work of art in any stadium in the
country. This is a historic event.''
