Installed in 1986, the Star Wars villain Gargon gained grotesque form in limestone in modern gothic architecture in Washington DC cathedral
Between colored stained glass windows and gothic towers that rise on Washington DC, the American capital, a detail draws attention at the Washington National Cathedral: The Head of Darth Vader carved on your facade. The villain of Star Wars It has been eternalized in stone since 1986, the result of a contest that united architecture, education and pop culture. But how did the gargue go there?
History begins in 1984, when the magazine National Geographic World It promoted, in partnership with the Cathedral, an international contest for children to create new grotesque – decorative sculptures that, unlike the gargments, do not function as water gutters. Between 1,400 drawings sent, Chris Rader, a 13 -year -old boy from Nebraska, proposed the face of Darth Vader. Although he did not take first place, his idea was considered so creative that he was sculpted along with three other finalists.
The project came out of paper thanks to sculptor Jay Hall Carpenter, who used images of the films to model the helmet in clay, and master artisan Patrick J. Plunkett, who turned the drawing into limestone. Like this, Vader He gained an unusual place among the figures that adorn the temple in gothic style.
For those responsible for the work, the choice made sense. Historically, grotesque symbolize the forces of evil outside the church. And few fiction characters represent so well “shadow”How much Darth Vaderwhose trajectory of fall and redemption also carries a spiritual message: the victory of good about evil.
Discreet, sculpture can only be seen with the help of binoculars on the northwest side of the Cathedral. Still, it became one of the most talked about attractions of the temple. Today, the “Stone vader”It is proof that even the most traditional architecture can dialogue with pop culture – and that the galaxy created by George Lucas It is already part of the collective and spiritual imagination.
Also read: ‘Star Wars’ gets an interactive map so that fans can explore the galaxy completely
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Source: Rollingstone
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
