Study for Richmond Cycle

Richard Hunt, Study for Richmond Cycle, 1977, soldered, bolted, and burnished copper with wood edging, 1960 3424 34 in. (48.3154.362.9 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, Art-in-Architecture Program, 1977.47.14, © 1977, Richard Hunt

Artwork Details

Title
Study for Richmond Cycle
Artist
Date
1977
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
1960 3424 34 in. (48.3154.362.9 cm.)
Copyright
© 1977, Richard Hunt
Credit Line
Transfer from the General Services Administration, Art-in-Architecture Program
Mediums
Mediums Description
soldered, bolted, and burnished copper with wood edging
Classifications
Subjects
  • General Services Administration — Art-in-Architecture Program
  • Study — sculpture model
  • Abstract
Object Number
1977.47.14

Artwork Description

Study for Richmond Cycle began life as a model for a huge plaza sculpture outside the Social Security Administration building in Richmond, California. Richmond Cycle is composed of two distinct parts that are separated spatially but united visually by virtue of shared materials and surface finish. The large biomorphic mass that seems to emerge from the ground and then arc back calls to mind a living form, an enormous tree that has fallen to the earth or a primordial animal taking its last breath. Together the elements evoke the cycle of life in which age and the weight of experience are paired with the lightness and promise of youth.


African American Art: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and Beyond, 2012

Works by this artist (1 item)

Exhibitions

Media - 1979.159.44 - SAAM-1979.159.44_1 - 56988
Sculpture Down to Scale: Models for Public Art at Federal Buildings, 1974 – 1985
May 31, 2019November 22, 2020
Artists used preliminary models—or maquettes—to communicate their ideas.

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Leslie J. Payne, New York Lady (Statue of Liberty), ca. 1970, painted tin, copper and wood with costume jewelry and reflector, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.74
New York Lady (Statue of Liberty)
Dateca. 1970
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Unidentified, Merganser Drake Decoy, 20th century, carved and painted wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.50
Merganser Drake Decoy
Artist
Unidentified
Date20th century
carved and painted wood
On view
Sargent Johnson, Mask, ca. 1930-1935, copper with gilding on walnut base, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of International Business Machines Corporation, 1966.27.4
Mask
Dateca. 1930-1935
copper with gilding on walnut base
On view
Andrew Trombley, Bass Decoy, ca. 1940s, carved and painted wood, painted copper sheet, ferrous eye hook, lead weight, and glass eyes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alastair B. Martin, 1999.67.20
Bass Decoy
Dateca. 1940s
carved and painted wood, painted copper sheet, ferrous eye hook, lead weight, and glass eyes
On view