Caelum Moor a Highlight of Arlington, Texas

Arlington, Texas has a lot going for it, but situated between the more well-known cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, its offerings are often overlooked, unless you’re a sports fan. Then, you might be familiar with Arlington.

Despite their name, the Dallas Cowboys play football in Arlington. The Texas Rangers play baseball in Arlington. The International Bowling Hall of Fame is located in Arlington.

For non-sports fans, Arlington has a slew of public parks, many of which feature outdoor art and sculpture. One of, if not the most interesting art displays is the Caelum Moor environmental sculpture.

Caelum Moor is located in Richard Greene Linear Park in downtown Arlington, across the street from AT&T Stadium, where the Cowboys play. Six Flags over Texas is visible from the park.

The sculpture is made up of 22 pieces of granite assembled in five stone groupings, or monuments, each with its own look and feel, and yet connected to the other pieces. It's an amazing display of public art and well worth a visit.

Created by Norman P. Hines in 1984, Caelum Moor was originally located in another part of Arlington, but was moved to its present spot in 2009 in a new configuration designed by the sculptor.

Each of the five stone groupings has a Celtic-inspired name and story, as does the sculpture itself: Caelum comes from a constellation known as the "sculptor's tool," and moor is an expanse of land.

This sculpture is meant to be hands-on, and on close inspection visitors will find that some parts of the stones are polished and smooth, some are rough, some are carved, and some have special meaning or abilities. Get close, touch, and experience it all.

The five groups of Caelum Moor are:

Tolmen Barrow

Tolmen means hole stone, and in Britain barrow can mean hill or mountain, or a sacred site. Tolmen Barrow is made up of three pieces of granite, the middle stone being the tolmen, which the artist has carved a hole through.

Tan Tara

Tan Tara stands 34 feet in the air, and features two pillars with a crossbar. It derives its name from Tara, the home of the ancient Celt gods, and tan, which means fire. If you step between the two pillars, you'll notice a concave circle in each one. These create an echo chamber, but only the person standing between the pillars can hear the echo. Tan Tara can be seen from the road, and is a real attention-getter.

De'Danaan

De'Danaan is made up of three vertical stones set in a triangular pattern. De'Danaan refers to an ancient Irish tribe. Each of the stones in this monument has a carved labyrinth, a symbol of meditation, which is one of the goals the artist has for the entire Caelum Moor sculpture.

Sarsen Caer

Sarsen is the name of the sandstone blocks that made up Stonehenge, and Caer is Welsh for castle, and like a castle, this piece is lit at night. Although the stones that make up Caelum Moor, and the way they are positioned may resemble Stonehenge, the artist did not create the sculpture to resemble or mimic Stonehenge.

Morna Linn

Morna Linn brings in the element of water, both because it is a waterfall, and because it rests in Holtz Pond. It is named appropriately, as Morna Linn literally translated means beloved waterfall. There is seating opposite Morna Linn so that you can sit, watch, listen, or meditate.

Artist Hines said of his sculpture "In Caelum Moor, I have tried to create a place where people can enjoy a quiet, meditative environment, where they can discover the stones and, perhaps, themselves."

Despite the fact that Caelum Moor is located in the middle of the city, Hines successfully achieved his goal. The sculptures are beautiful, the park they rest in is beautiful, and it's easy to feel relaxed in their midst. Walking among the five stone groups that make up Caelum Moor really is a meditative experience.

All but one of the sculptures—Tolmen Barrow—can be accessed on a concrete sidewalk, making them handicap accessible.

If you’re looking for something interesting to do in the DFW area, consider visiting Richard Greene Linear Park (1601 E. Randol Mill Rd.). If you’re a sports fan you could combine your visit with a trip across the road to AT&T Stadium.

For more information about Caelum Moor, you can visit the Arlington Parks and Recreation Department.

Note: Because the park is located across the street from the stadium, getting there on game day(s) may be extremely difficult, and parking nearly impossible.

Source:

City of Arlington Parks and Recreation Department