Tony Tasset's Lumberjack "Paul" at Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park

By ChiGalleryNews, August 5, 2010 at 2:34 pm

Everyone's been all atwitter over [Tony Tasset's "Eye"](http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-gallery-news/2010/07/eye-on-chicago-tony-tassets-eye-big-plans-from-the-chicago-loop-alliance.html) in Chicago's Loop at State and Van Buren this summer, but if you'd like to see more, make up an excuse to head to University Park, IL to the [Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park](http://www.govst.edu/sculpture/) at Governor's State University.

Tasset's larger-than-life (even Paul Bunyan's life) sculpture of the woodsman to beat all woodsmen, Paul Bunyan, has been in the park since 2006.

"Paul" is one of 26 pieces, many by masters of contemporary sculpture, in NMSP's permanent collection. And if you like the oversize scale and playfulness of "Eye", you'll enjoy the trip to the sculpture park.

According to NMSP: "Paul" was seen as a breakthrough work for Tasset, who has also explored artistic media such as photography and painting. It was his first monumental, figurative piece. Both "Paul" and "Eye" are constructed of painted fiberglass over a steel frame. They are the same height - about 30 feet - and were fabricated by F.A.S.T. (Fiberglass Animals Shapes and Trademarks) Corp. of Sparta, WI.

Viewers notice that "Paul" looks like his back hurts after all the years chopping down trees, and he's spent time in the sun. He's still strong, but starting to wear down. And maybe he thinks no one will see him in this moment of natural fatigue. The image is counter to almost all other representations of Bunyan, an icon of the frontier and hard work. And it's this departure that conjures more emotion than usual from the viewer, and makes us realize Tasset's skill on such a large scale. Revisitng the "Eye" now will perhaps show things from a new point of view.

The Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park is located at Governors State University's main campus in University Park. The park is free of charge and open from dawn to dusk 365 days a year. For more information about the sculpture park, visit [www.govst.edu/sculpture](http://www.govst.edu/sculpture) or call (708) 534-4486.

And just because I can't pass up the chance when we're talking Paul Bunyan, take a look at the always fantastic Monty Python "Lumberjack" sketch, featuring Michael Palin.