Untitled (Jeffersonville)

Untitled

Artist	Barney Bright
Year	1970
Type	Bronze & Copper tubing
Dimensions	320 cm × 150 cm × 180 cm (126 in × 60 in × 70 in)
Location	Jeffersonville, Indiana
	38°16′32.59″N 85°44′26.27″W / 38.2757194°N 85.7406306°W
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.

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.^[1]

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.^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[1]

Artist

References

1. Save Outdoor Sculpture (1993). "Untitled, (sculpture)". SOS. Smithsonian. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
2. Roberta L. Brooker (2009). "Jeffersonville Township Public Library". Tour. Indiana State Government. Retrieved 3 December 2010.

External links

• Jeffersonville Public Library.