Orange Curves
Orange Curves
| Orange Curves | |
|---|---|
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| Artist | Brent Gann |
| Year | 2000 |
| Type | Painted Steel Height: Template:Ft to m Length: Template:Ft to m Width: Template:Ft to m |
| Location | Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Template:City-state, United States |
Orange Curves, a public sculpture by American artist Brent Gann, is located on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus, which is near downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Orange Curves is an abstract metal sculpture consisting of three steel curves that have been welded together at angles creating a three-dimensional composition. The entire sculpture has been painted orange. It is located on the North side of the Lecture Hall which is located at 325 University Blv.[1]
Sculpture Description
'Orange Curves' consists of three cast steel curves welded together. When looking at the proper front of the sculpture the middle curve appears to be the link between the bottom and top curves. This middle curve resembles a backward "c" with the top curve looped through the top of the inverted "c" and the bottom curved looped through the bottom middle portion of the same middle curve. Both the bottom and the middle curves are attached to the base with additional pieces of steel which have been bolted into the concrete base. The composition does not appear to suggest anything representational. Each curve is similar in size in shape but are not identical. The entire sculpture, except the attaching bolts, has been painted orange.
Metal is often cast, welded or both to create a sculpture. Orange curves shows evidence of both. To cast metal it must be heated in a forge to a temperature above melting point, then it is taken from the forge and poured into a mold. This mold can be made of a variety of materials ranging from metal to ceramic, but the mold must be carefully reinforced to prevent it from breaking or leaking as the metal cools and hardens.[2] Welding is a process that joins two pieces of metal in a strong joint by applying heat and sometimes pressure that cools to form the joint. After the joint cools there is a joint line consisting filler metal and the metal of the two pieces that have been joined. Steel is an alloy, that is, it is a composite of more than one metal. The specific proportions of the different types of metal in steel can make it a very challenging material to work with.[3]
Sculpture Information
Artist
Brent Gann is and American Artist who obtained B.F.A.'s in both Visual Communication and Sculpture from Herron School of Art and Design in 2000. He also received a certificate in Computer Science in 2002. He has worked as a graphic designer for Pathology Multimedia Education Group since 1999.[4]
Location History
An image on the artist's website[5]. indicates that this sculpture was exhibited inside in another context at one time before it was installed in its present location.
Condition
'Orange Curves' was observed and documented on November 16, 2009. The sculpture and base appear to be in good condition. Both are structurally sound. On November 16th two areas were noted that appeared to be paint loss, further examination on November 30, 2009 concluded that these were actual areas of dirt accumulation. This thick dirt appeared to be the color of the cast steel under the paint layer. The only conservation concern at this time is the thin layer of dirt that has accumulated over the entire sculpture as well as pockets of thick dirt. The bolts that hold the sculpture to the base appear to be sound and show no evidence of rust. The base itself is solid with no damage noted.
All metal is by nature reactive, that is its chemical make-up is constantly responding to its environment. This is most commonly called corrosion. It occurs when the elements in the metal experience re-mineralization. In iron and steel this commonly occurs in the presence of water. Outdoor sculptures are exposed to rain, ice and snow in Indiana which can lead to corrosion. The paint layer over the steel is currently keeping this process from occurring. It is imperative then that the paint layer stays intact. This should be considered when determining what if any cleaning process will occur with this sculpture. It is also important to note that the dirt itself is abrasive and therefore it may not be ideal to leave it on the sculpture.[6]
See Also
External Links
IUPUI Collection Care and Management Group Gallery
References
- ^ "Lecture Hall (LE)." IUPUI Building Directory. http://www.iupui.edu/building/LE.html accessed 30 November 2009.
- ^ Verhelst, W. Sculpture: Tools, Materials, and Techniques, 2nd ed. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc, 1988. Print.
- ^ "Welding-steel and steel weldability:SOLUTIONS with Effective, Powerful Advice," Levi, E.E., welding-advisers.com, n.d. http://www.welding-advisers.com/Welding-steel.html. Web.
- ^ "Resume," Gann, B., 220voltdesign.com, 2002. http://www.brentgann.com/old_site/default2.html.
- ^ "Orange Curves," Gann, B, 220voltdesign.com, 2002. http://www.brentgann.com/old_site/default2.html
- ^ Grossbard, E. "The Care and Conservation of Metal Artifacts." Conservation Concerns: A guide for collectors and curators Ed. Konstanze Bachmann. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1992. 101-104. Print.
39°46.384′N 86°10.405′W / 39.773067°N 86.173417°W
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