
THE SDAF ORCHID
- Exemplifies good place making, i.e. it is a functional and memorable place or space to be
- Contributes to its surrounding context and adds to community character
- Skillfully and thoughtfully detailed and crafted – showing respect for materials and the community
- Expresses something relevant to our time and place – San Diego, 2019 as well as its function
- Provides social and economic benefit to San Diegans
- Encourages social interaction or a quiet moment
- Elicits a sense of civic pride
- Is technologically or environmentally innovative
- Supports community building
The design and creation of this monumental statement took the team over a year to plan and execute. The sculptures were placed in August of 1997, and the environmental sculpture and plantings were finalized in early 1998. This placement follows a previous commission by the Barona Tribe, a Veteran’s memorial that the National Sculptors’ Guild and Denny Haskew dedicated in 1996 - "He Who Fights With a Feather"
The Barona are incredibly generous, both collectively and individually, everyone we met were generous with wisdom and nurturing of the future; working with the Tribe has been a highlight for each member of the design team. Learn about their philanthropic efforts

The entry statement includes multiple sculptures intermixed with earthworks. The rim of a basket emerging from the earth planted with native grasses as a backdrop for sculptures of stone and bronze. Patterning of the landscaping is derived from the Tribe's traditional basket weaving designs. Oak trees that were the sustenance of previous generations connect the earth to the sky. The monumental sculptures, "Respect all that is Natural", "Observe Nature", "Give of Yourself", "Love Song" and "Trail of Forgiveness", are visible as one traverses the 200-foot diameter site, welcoming visitors to the the Barona Resort & Casino. The sculptures represent all Tribal people, the very young and the elderly, as well as the unborn children who represent the future.
Haskew's sculptures are a combination of bronze and monolithic Dakota sandstone that stand 8- to 13-feet high and weigh 7 to 10 tons each. Emerging from the face of each stone are bronze figurative elements. Haskew has developed a special patina technique to match the unique variations of the stone. The sculpted forms depict an old man, a child, a young mother, a flute player and an old woman. Each has symbolic significance. In his dedication speech Haskew advised that the eagle feather held by the old man is an admonition to “respect all that is natural. That’s everything, all of us . . . . All of life.” The child points her finger to the landscape of the Barona reservation and gives the admonition to “observe nature.” Honoring all the mothers before and after her, the young mother lifts a clay pot that she has made to honor Mother Nature and all mothers “who give of themselves,” Haskew said.

• Observe Nature: The young child points to her new valley. Observe nature, she says. We honor all the small children forced to move from their homes to this new valley.
• Give of Yourself: A woman holds her handmade pottery and tells the viewer: Give of yourself in this new place that we all may prosper. This sculpture honors all the women who had to leave their homes and gardens for a new valley. -Denny Haskew


The Barona are incredibly generous, both collectively and individually, everyone we met were generous with wisdom and nurturing of the future; working with the Tribe has been a highlight for each member of the design team. Learn about their philanthropic efforts here.
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