With the help of a helicopter and a crane, the Palm Springs Art Museum on Wednesday relocated a major sculpture by well-known artist Bruce Beasley to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway's Mountain Station.
Local philanthropist Bradford W. Bates - in honor of his four siblings and in recognition of the museum's 75th anniversary and the tram's 50th anniversary - donated the 3,700-pound carved granite bench titled "New Horizon," to the museum.
The sculpture now rests on the north patio at an elevation of 8,500-feet, making it one of the few pieces of public art at that elevation in the nation.
"I am extremely passionate about the unique sculpture of this bench which fits perfectly with the unique spiritual experience I have had since becoming a resident here. I wanted to contribute something significant that might offer the casual visitor a deeper understanding and appreciation of the area," Bates said in a statement.
"Since its earliest days Palm Springs has supported creativity and acceptance in general, and with 'New Horizon' there is now a historical and artful monument representing love, openness and creativity that is truly the heart of Palm Springs."
Beasley, the artist, is recognized internationally for the abstract sculptures he has produced in a career that spans more than 50 years. His work can be found in more than 30 museum collections, including the Museum of Modern Art and Guggenheim Museum in New York; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; National Art Museum of China in Beijing; Musee National d'Art Moderne-Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris; and the Smithsonian Museum of American Art in Washington.