Year 1970 (1970) Artist Barney Bright | Type Bronze & Copper tubing Created 1970 | |
Dimensions 320 cm × 150 cm × 180 cm (126 in × 60 in × 70 in) Location Jeffersonville, Indiana Owner Jeffersonville Township Public Library | ||
Untitled, is a public artwork by American artist Barney Bright, located at the Jeffersonville Township Public Library in Jeffersonville, Indiana, United States. Untitled was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey in 1993. This abstract sculpture represents the Devonian time period.
Contents
aln001 unknown artist untitled b2
Description
The sculpture, which looks like a sea creature, comprises numerous tentacles of varying lengths that stream up and out from a main stem. The stem is mounted on a rectangular base made of Indiana limestone (approx. 83 x 20 x 20 in.) and weighs 400 lbs.
A plaque sits nearby mounted on a piece of driftwood stating:
THE SCULPTURE DISPLAYED ON THE EAST COLONADE REPRESENTS ITS CREATOR'S IMPRESSIONS OF THE DEVONIAN TIME PERIOD WHEN THE FALLS OF THE OHIO FOSSIL BEDS WERE BEING FORMED. THOUGH THE GRACEFULLY OUTSTRETCHING TENTACLES HAVE A CRUSTY FOSSILIFEROUS LOOK, THE SCULPTOR, BARNEY BRIGHT, DESCRIBES THE GENTLY FLOWING LINES OF HIS SCULPTURE AS EXPRESSING THE FIRST MOVEMENT OF LIFE REACHING OUT FROM THE SEA TO THE EARTH. THE WORK IS COMPOSED OF COPPER TUBING WELDED OVER WITH 400 POUNDS OF BRONZE. THE BENCH-BASE ON WHICH THE SCULPTURE RESTS IS MADE OF INDIANA LIMESTONE.Information
The sculpture, which cost $7,500, was originally located on a limestone bench fifteen feet from its current location. Between 1977 and early 1978 it was moved and installed on a higher base to help prevent vandalism. The museum was renovated in 2007 and the sculpture was moved inside and placed within one of the many fountains (representing the Falls) that were built.
Bright describes the sculpture as representing the Devonian time period, which is the era when the Falls of the Ohio were being formed. According to the SOS! survey the sculpture " the tentacled sculpture represents life reaching out for the sea and covering the earth." Local controversy ensued due to the scientific nature of the sculpture upon its installation.