The WoODeN SCULPTURE GARDEN of RoMANo GABRIEL

We came upon the exhibit of Romano Gabriel's Wooden Sculpture Garden as we strolled down Second Street in downtown Eureka looking for a place to eat. The exhibit is visible from the sidewalk and is on display 24 hours a day behind a large glass storefront display case. I had a hard time getting a good view of the exhibit due to the reflections of light bouncing off the glass and due to the fact that you're unable to get right up close to the glass because of a pesky iron fence that's in the way! Needless to say, I had an even harder time photographing it! I recently read that the City is planning to give the area a face lift in order to make the exhibit more visible and enjoyable for onlookers and tourist.
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Romano Gabriel was born in Mura, Italy, in 1887. He worked with his father as an apprentice furniture maker. He came to America in 1913 and later served in WWI. After the war he moved to Eureka, California where he worked as a carpenter and gardener. In 1940 and throughout the next 30 years of his life, he began creating a wooden sculpture garden to decorate his yard out of vegetable crates. The garden was built in layers with larger pieces dominating the background and smaller pieces in the front. Over time his garden grew so large that it eventually obscured his house on Pine Street. Romano cut and painted thousands of wooden pieces and fitting some with moving parts using little motors. Along with painting flowers and trees, he also painted people for his garden. Some of the faces took on caricatures of politicians and famous people. Being somewhat of a loner, Romano Gabriel's wooden sculpture garden became a way for him to express himself.

Romano Gabriel died on March 17, 1977 ten years after he put the final touches on his garden. Shortly after his death the California Arts Council declared that the wooden sculpture garden had been designated as an important piece of folk art. The garden was dismantled and stored in boxes to protect it until the Vellutini family of Eureka purchased the entire wooden sculpture garden in an auction as a gift for the City of Eureka. The garden was restored and installed almost to its original set-up in a custom built storefront structure that was designed by the architectural firm of Trump and Sauble. The opening dedication was on April 3, 1982.