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A Bridge Across and Beyond

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A Bridge Across and Beyond
ArtistRichard Hunt
Year1978 (1978)
TypeBronze
LocationWashington, D.C.
Coordinates38°55′26.52″N 77°1′8.81″W / 38.9240333°N 77.0191139°W / 38.9240333; -77.0191139
OwnerHoward University

A Bridge Across and Beyond, is a public artwork by American artist Richard Hunt, located at the Blackburn Center on the Howard University campus in Washington, D.C., United States. A Bridge Across and Beyond was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey in 1993.[1][2][3]

Description

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"A Bridge Across and Beyond" is a welded bronze abstract sculpture which sits, surrounded by fountains, within a large reflecting pool. The sculpture consists of two massive pyramid-like structures that bend towards each other, symbolizing both Africa and the descendants of Africans in America; the "bridge" is formed by abstract African symbols reaching across from each pyramid to the other.[4][1][5]

Acquisition and tribute

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This sculpture was donated to the university by John Debrew, Jr., the CEO of Mildred Andrew's Fund. The sculpture is dedicated to Debrew's mother, Katie May Artis Debrew and all single mothers in the world.[2][5]

Condition

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This sculpture was surveyed in 1993 for its condition and was described that "well maintained".[1] However, since 2005, the fountain has only been filled sporadically, due to cracks in the fountain. In lieu of repairing the fountain, Howard has considered removing the fountain, leaving the sculpture "suspended over a solid plaza."[5] In 2007, Howard's Blackburn Center director, Roberta McLeod, passed out fliers and considered raising money to fix the fountain, desiring to leave it a working fountain unlike other fountains on campus, which were no longer running. Regarding the fixing of the fountain McLeod stated "I want it back the way it used to be because it was beautiful."[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c SOS! (1993). "A Bridge Across and Beyond (sculpture)". Save Outdoor Sculpture. Smithsonian. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  2. ^ a b Sonia Summers (2004). "Know Your University: A Bridge Across and Beyond". News. The Hilltop. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  3. ^ "Complete List of Award Recipients and Honorees 1979", Ebony, p. 84, Feb 1980, ISSN 0012-9011, retrieved 22 April 2011
  4. ^ Richard Hunt (sculptor) (1999). "Public Sculpture by Date". Public Sculpture. Richard Hunt (sculptor). Archived from the original on 2012-10-17. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  5. ^ a b c Arica Wade (2005). "Blackburn Fountain Runs Dry With No Plans For Repair". News. The Hilltop. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  6. ^ Mercia Williams-Murray (2007). "The Fountains that Bore No Water". News. The Hilltop. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.

Further reading

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