Eve (Davidson)
Encyclopedia
Eve is an outdoor sculpture
created by Robert William Davidson
in 1931. It is currently located in the HITS Building at 410 West 10th Street on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
(IUPUI). The overall dimensions of this bronze sculpture
are 5’ tall, 2’ long, and 1’ wide.
base which measures 17” in diameter and 2” tall. She is standing with her proper left foot pointed forward and her proper right foot is perpendicular to the left, pointing right. Her arms are crossed behind her head and she is looking down and to her left. Her hairstyle
is such that all of her forehead and both of her ears are visible.
“Robert Davidson” is visible on the proper left side of the top of the base.
by the nursing students at IUPUI. The graduating class often posed around the statue for a photo in the 1940s. In the 1950s and 1960s it became a tradition to dress the sculpture in a nurse’s pink training uniform at graduation
time. She has also been decorated with women’s undergarments, towels, and balloons over time.
Alumni Nurses Association in 1931. They wanted a statue to put in the newly created Ball Gardens just north of the nurses’ Ball Residence. It was cast by the Priessmann, Breuer, and Co. Foundry in Munich, Germany.
in 1904. He was an apprentice to his father, Oscar Davidson, also an artist
. He studied sculpture at the John Herron Art Institute ( now the Herron School of Art
), the Art Institute of Chicago
, the School of American Sculpture in New York City, and the Bavarian Fine Arts Academy in Munich, Germany.
Davidson’s wife, Maryetta, was an Indiana ceramics artist
and they both graduated from the John Herron Art Institute in 1926. They moved to Saratoga Springs, New York
where Davidson taught art at Skidmore College
from 1934 to 1972.
Davidson is a nationally known artist whose work is in the collections of the Indianapolis Museum of Art
and the Smithsonian
. He has won many awards for his works including the Art Association Prize at the Herron Art Institute in 1925, the Harry Johnson Prize from Hoosier Salon
in 1930, and two first prize wins at the Indiana State Fair
in 1923 and 1924. He died in Schenectady, New York
in 1982.
. She was then displayed at the Hoosier Salon in Chicago, and then in the John Herron School of Art. She was finally installed in the middle of a fountain in Ball Gardens by 1937. She is currently housed in the HITS Building on the IUPUI campus. As of November 16, 2009, an interpretive sign accompanying her in her temporary location states, “Removed from the fountain in 1997 because of total ground instability. Temporarily placed here, in the Health Information and Translational Services Building, while awaiting rehabilitation of the Ball Nurse’s Sunken Garden and Convalescent Park. When that is achieved, she will be returned to her place of honor as the centerpiece of the garden,” which is near the corner of North and West Drives.
1989 campaign organized by Heritage Preservation: The National Institute of Conservation partnered with the Smithsonian Institution
, specifically the Smithsonian American Art Museum
. Throughout the 1990s, over 7,000 volunteers nationwide have cataloged and assessed the condition of over 30,000 publicly accessible statues, monuments, and sculptures installed as outdoor public art across the United States
.
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
created by Robert William Davidson
Robert William Davidson
Robert William Davidson was an American sculptor.Davidson was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1904. He was an apprentice to his father, Oscar Davidson, also an artist...
in 1931. It is currently located in the HITS Building at 410 West 10th Street on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis is an urban campus of Indiana University and Purdue University in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Indiana University is the managing partner...
(IUPUI). The overall dimensions of this bronze sculpture
Bronze sculpture
Bronze is the most popular metal for cast metal sculptures; a cast bronze sculpture is often called simply a "bronze".Common bronze alloys have the unusual and desirable property of expanding slightly just before they set, thus filling the finest details of a mold. Then, as the bronze cools, it...
are 5’ tall, 2’ long, and 1’ wide.
Description
Eve is a sculpture of a nude female figure standing on a circular bronzeBronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
base which measures 17” in diameter and 2” tall. She is standing with her proper left foot pointed forward and her proper right foot is perpendicular to the left, pointing right. Her arms are crossed behind her head and she is looking down and to her left. Her hairstyle
Hairstyle
A hairstyle, hairdo, or haircut refers to the styling of hair, usually on the human head. The fashioning of hair can be considered an aspect of personal grooming, fashion, and cosmetics, although practical, cultural, and popular considerations also influence some hairstyles.-History of...
is such that all of her forehead and both of her ears are visible.
“Robert Davidson” is visible on the proper left side of the top of the base.
Information
The statue was nicknamed “Flo” for Florence NightingaleFlorence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale OM, RRC was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night...
by the nursing students at IUPUI. The graduating class often posed around the statue for a photo in the 1940s. In the 1950s and 1960s it became a tradition to dress the sculpture in a nurse’s pink training uniform at graduation
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
time. She has also been decorated with women’s undergarments, towels, and balloons over time.
Acquisition
Eve was commissioned by the Indiana UniversityIndiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
Alumni Nurses Association in 1931. They wanted a statue to put in the newly created Ball Gardens just north of the nurses’ Ball Residence. It was cast by the Priessmann, Breuer, and Co. Foundry in Munich, Germany.
Artist
Robert Davidson was born in Indianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
in 1904. He was an apprentice to his father, Oscar Davidson, also an artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
. He studied sculpture at the John Herron Art Institute ( now the Herron School of Art
Herron School of Art
Herron School of Art and Design, a school of Indiana University, was ranked 45th overall by U.S. News and World Report among graduate schools of fine arts in 2008....
), the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
, the School of American Sculpture in New York City, and the Bavarian Fine Arts Academy in Munich, Germany.
Davidson’s wife, Maryetta, was an Indiana ceramics artist
Ceramic art
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
and they both graduated from the John Herron Art Institute in 1926. They moved to Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
where Davidson taught art at Skidmore College
Skidmore College
Skidmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students. The college is located in the town of Saratoga Springs, New York State....
from 1934 to 1972.
Davidson is a nationally known artist whose work is in the collections of the Indianapolis Museum of Art
Indianapolis Museum of Art
The Indianapolis Museum of Art is an encyclopedic art museum located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The museum, which underwent a $74 million expansion in 2005, is located on a campus on the near northwest area outside downtown Indianapolis, northwest of Crown Hill Cemetery.The...
and the Smithsonian
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
. He has won many awards for his works including the Art Association Prize at the Herron Art Institute in 1925, the Harry Johnson Prize from Hoosier Salon
Hoosier Salon
The Hoosier Salon is a non-profit arts organization that was founded in 1925 by a group called the Daughters of Indiana. That year, the Salon hosted an exhibit in the galleries of the Marshall Field and Company Building in Chicago featuring Indiana artists such as T.C. Steele, J. Ottis Adams and...
in 1930, and two first prize wins at the Indiana State Fair
Indiana State Fair
The Indiana State Fair is an annual fair held in Indianapolis, Indiana, usually in the month of August. The first fair was held in 1881 and the 2009 fair had the highest number of attendees at 973,902....
in 1923 and 1924. He died in Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
in 1982.
Location history
Eve was first shown at the 1933 Chicago World’s FairCentury of Progress
A Century of Progress International Exposition was the name of a World's Fair held in Chicago from 1933 to 1934 to celebrate the city's centennial. The theme of the fair was technological innovation...
. She was then displayed at the Hoosier Salon in Chicago, and then in the John Herron School of Art. She was finally installed in the middle of a fountain in Ball Gardens by 1937. She is currently housed in the HITS Building on the IUPUI campus. As of November 16, 2009, an interpretive sign accompanying her in her temporary location states, “Removed from the fountain in 1997 because of total ground instability. Temporarily placed here, in the Health Information and Translational Services Building, while awaiting rehabilitation of the Ball Nurse’s Sunken Garden and Convalescent Park. When that is achieved, she will be returned to her place of honor as the centerpiece of the garden,” which is near the corner of North and West Drives.
Documentation
A Museum Studies course at IUPUI recently undertook the project of researching and reporting on the condition of 40 outdoor sculptures on the university campus. Eve was included in this movement. This documentation was influenced by the successful Save Outdoor Sculpture!Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture! is a community-based effort to identify, document, and conserve outdoor sculpture in the United States. By fostering awareness and appreciation, SOS! aims to advocate proper care of a nationwide public resource....
1989 campaign organized by Heritage Preservation: The National Institute of Conservation partnered with the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, specifically the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is a museum in Washington, D.C. with an extensive collection of American art.Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the museum has a broad variety of American art that covers all regions and art movements found in the United States...
. Throughout the 1990s, over 7,000 volunteers nationwide have cataloged and assessed the condition of over 30,000 publicly accessible statues, monuments, and sculptures installed as outdoor public art across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.