Atkinson Memorial Courtyard Sculptor Awarded 2008 National Medal of the Arts

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Jesus Moroles, left, the artist who designed the Richard B. Atkinson Memorial Courtyard at the Leflar Law Center, is congratulated on Monday, Nov. 17, by President George W. Bush after being awarded the 2008 National Medal of the Arts.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Jesus Moroles, the artist whose large-scale sculpture arrangement “Dreamscape” graces the Richard B. Atkinson Memorial Courtyard at the University of Arkansas School of Law, was awarded the 2008 National Medal of the Arts on Monday, Nov. 17, at a White House ceremony attended by President George W. Bush. The medal was given to Moroles “for his enduring achievements as a sculptor of stone. His granite monuments grace America's landscape.” Other recipients of this year’s Medal of the Arts include actress Olivia de Havilland and comic book writer and illustrator Stan Lee.

In his remarks to open the ceremony, President Bush said, “The men and women we recognize with this year's medals have entertained, educated and simply amazed us. In the process, they have taught us more about ourselves and the shared ideals that make us all Americans. Their achievement reminds us that freedom of expression is the hallmark of any democratic society -- and the foundation of our nation's greatness.”

One of Moroles’ most recent, and grandest, works of art can be experienced at the Richard B. Atkinson Memorial Courtyard. The sculpture arrangement represents a riverbed and includes carved granite benches, tables and a water feature.

In 2004, Richard Atkinson, then dean of the School of Law, approached Moroles about designing the courtyard. “I want it to be a place that visitors to Fayetteville have on their ‘must see’ list,” he said at the time. Atkinson died before work on the courtyard began, and it subsequently was named in his honor.

The Richard B. Atkinson Memorial Courtyard has been open to the public since the rededication of the Leflar Law Center on Oct. 3, 2008. The courtyard will be dedicated in spring 2009.

In addition to the courtyard, Moroles created three columns that adorn the Norma Lea Beasley Entrance Hall outside the law center. Moroles has more than 2,000 works in place in China, Egypt, France, Italy, Japan, Switzerland and the United States, in museum, corporate, public and private collections. To date Moroles' work has been included in more than 160 one-person exhibitions and 190 group exhibitions worldwide. Among his distinctions, Moroles is a member of the Board of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., and recipient of the 2007 Texas Medal of the Arts Award for Visual Arts by the Texas Cultural Trust.