Grapefruit - Mission TX - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

The stylized grapefruit is right beside a large amphitheater. There is also a fenced war memorial just south of the Grapefruit.

The fountain/pool under the Grapefruit is now like six sectioned pieces of a grapefruit joined in a small central pool.

Smithsonian Description:
Abstract Cor-Ten steel sphere segmented with inner vertical core. The sculpture is painted yellow on the outer edges and pink in the interior. The sculpture stands in a round concrete fountain pool.

Grapefruit History (visit link) :
The first reported planting of a grapefruit grove in Texas was in 1893. First varieties were white and later pink varieties. John H. Shary, known as the “Father of the Citrus Industry”, bought 16,000 acres of brush land in 1914 then cleared it to plant grapefruit. About 1929, an accidental discovery of red grapefruit growing on a pink grapefruit tree gave rise to the Texas Red Grapefruit Industry. The “Ruby” Red Grapefruit was the first grapefruit to be granted a U.S. patent.
During the 1970's, several important mutations found on the “Ruby” trees produced fruit even redder than the 1929 Ruby Red grapefruit. In 1970 the Star Ruby variety was released followed by the Rio Red variety in 1984
The South Texas sub-tropical climate, fertile soil, and sunny weather work together to provide excellent growing conditions. Texas citrus growers carefully maintain crop quality through successful irrigation techniques, growing conditions and extensive research. Texas grapefruit is tree-ripened and hand-picked to ensure the best quality possible. After picking, area shippers wash, inspect, grade and hand-pack the fruit. It’s then shipped to supermarkets across the United States and Canada.

Texas Citrus Fiesta (visit link) :
Paul Ord and the Young Men’s Business League introduced the first Texas Citrus Fiesta in Mission in December 1932. The celebration was a way to spread the word about the bountiful winter harvest of grapefruits and oranges from the lush, subtropical Rio Grande Valley. Except for 1933 due to hurricane damage and during World War II, has been held annually.

TITLE: (Grapefruit), (sculpture). ARTIST(S): Suter, Warren C., sculptor. REFCO, founder. DATE: Installed April 21, 1982. Dedicated June 1982. MEDIUM: Sculpture: Cor-Ten steel, painted; Basin: concrete. CONTROL NUMBER: IAS TX001015 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: Leo Peña Placita Park 801 North Conway Avenue Mission, Texas. DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: 'Fountain' isn't round now.

Visit Instructions:
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Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   03/04/2016 WalksfarTX visited it 07/18/2015 Benchmark Blasterz visited it 02/04/2014 PeterNoG visited it

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