Maquette for Excalibur

Beverly Pepper, Maquette for Excalibur, 1975, welded steel on plexiglas base, 16 3⁄8 x 32 3⁄4 x 21 1⁄2 in. (41.5 x 83.1 x 54.5 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, Art-in-Architecture Program, 1979.159.17

Artwork Details

Title
Maquette for Excalibur
Artist
Date
1975
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
16 3⁄8 x 32 3⁄4 x 21 1⁄2 in. (41.5 x 83.1 x 54.5 cm)
Credit Line
Transfer from the General Services Administration, Art-in-Architecture Program
Mediums
Mediums Description
welded steel on plexiglas base
Classifications
Subjects
  • Abstract
  • Study — sculpture model
Object Number
1979.159.17
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1979.159.17

Artwork Description

For her sculpture at the San Diego federal buildings, Beverly Pepper produced a model of the building façades to study how her design would interact with people and with the architectural environment. Hoping to draw people into the plaza, Pepper designed Excalibur to be seen not only from ground level, but also from overhead windows and by passing cars. Although Excalibur was an instant sensation in San Diego after its installation in 1976, some viewers felt that the price was excessive and that the sculpture looked “ready to be launched into space.” The completed sculpture measures 40 by 32 by 60 feet.

Works by this artist (2 items)

Image Not Available
Silk Stockings are Bayonets, drawing for ​“The Masses”
Artist
Date1937
conte crayon, brush and ink and china white on paper
Not on view
Stuyvesant Van Veen, Death of a Giant, 1934, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the U.S. Department of Labor, 1964.1.31
Death of a Giant
Artist
Date1934
oil on canvas
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Browse All Artworks
Jesús Moroles, Lapstrake I, 1980, Georgia gray granite, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alton and Emily Steiner, 2002.82
Lapstrake I
Artist
Date1980
Georgia gray granite
Not on view
John Safer, Chandelle, 1969, revised 2013, Lucite, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 2007.23
Chandelle
Artist
Date1969, revised 2013
Lucite
Not on view
Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Shell), early 1930s, mixed media: paperboard, paper, shells, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 1985.64.37
Untitled (Shell)
Artist
Dateearly 1930s
mixed media: paperboard, paper, shells
Not on view
Emery Blagdon, The Healing Machine, ca. 1955-1986, mixed media, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment and gift of Dan Dryden, friend of Emery Blagdon, the Kohler Foundation, Inc., and John E. and Douglas O. Robson, from the Margaret Z. Robson Collection, VR.2014.49.GRP
The Healing Machine
Artist
Dateca. 1955-1986
mixed media
On view