Ramona's Gift, (sculpture) - San Antonio, TX - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

Upon entering the San Antonio Zoological Gardens, located at 3903 N St Mary's Street, San Antonio, TX, walk past the sculpture of the pride of lions and continue to the flamingo display. In front of the flamingo pond is a small shady resting area that is actually Ramona's Garden, according to the embedded bronze title in the brickwork making up the area in front of the flamingos. Within Ramona's Garden is a concrete pillar that forms the base for the sculpture titled, "Ramona's Gift."
The sculpture is of a young girl, probably a pre-teen elementary school-aged youth, who is wearing a smock over a blouse but is kneeling down while extending her proper right arm and releasing a dove from her proper right hand. The dress covers her legs and knees. Her long hair is wind blown back from her face. The dove is fully extended for flight, with both wings extended, neck out with its head looking upward toward the sky. The sculpture is about 3 feet high and is mounted on a base about 4 feet tall. Unfortunately, at the time of this posting, the landscape plantings next to the sculpture has fronds that are growing over parts of this sculpture and hinders viewing the details of the work.
The is a plaque mounted on a metal frame separate from the base and the sculpture which gives the name of the sculpture, the sculptor's name, a quote from Kahil Gibran, and a brief dedication. The text of the plaque reads as follows:

"Ramona's Gift"
- Dennis Smith

"Through the hands of such as these God speaks and from
behind their eyes He smiles
upon the earth."
- Kahil Gibran

In memory of
Ramona Wood Moorman
1968-1987.


The remarks in the SIRIS entry for this sculpture notes that this sculpture was "commissioned by Moorman family in memory of Ramona Moorman, whose grandfather, Mr. Lewis Moorman, is Director Emeritus of the San Antonio Zoological Society."

A web search of Ramona Wood Moorman revealed that she was born April 28, 1968 and died October 18, 1987. Her burial plot is found in Missions Burial Park in Bexar County, TX.
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The San Antonio Zoo will be 100 years old in 2014. It is open 365 days, 9am - 5pm daily. Adult entry fees (12 years old to 61 year old)are $12.00. Children between 4-11 and Senior Adults 62 or older pay an entry fee of $9.50 each. Children 3 or younger get in free.
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TITLE: Ramon's Gift, (sculpture) ARTIST(S): Dennis Smith, sculptor DATE: 1988, dedicated 1989 MEDIUM: Sculpture: bronze; Base: concrete CONTROL NUMBER: IAS TX000171 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: San Antonio Zoo 3903 N St Mary's Street San Antonio, TX DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: none noted.

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