Untitled (Jeffersonville)
Encyclopedia
Untitled, is a public artwork by American
artist Barney Bright
, located at the Jeffersonville Township Public Library
in Jeffersonville, Indiana
, United States
. Untitled was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
survey in 1993. This abstract sculpture represents the Devonian
time period.
(approx. 83 x 20 x 20 in.) and weighs 400 lbs.
A plaque sits nearby mounted on a piece of driftwood
stating:
Bright describes the sculpture as representing the Devonian time period, which is the era when the Falls of the Ohio were being formed. According to the SOS! survey the sculpture " the tentacled sculpture represents life reaching out for the sea and covering the earth." Local controversy ensued due to the scientific nature of the sculpture upon its installation.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist Barney Bright
Barney Bright
Jeptha Barnard Bright, Jr , better known as Barney Bright, born in Shelby County, Kentucky and was a sculptor from Louisville, Kentucky is best known for his work on the Louisville Clock.-Biography:...
, located at the Jeffersonville Township Public Library
Jeffersonville Township Public Library
Jeffersonville Township Public Library is a public library system in Jeffersonville, Indiana, USA. The Jeffersonville Township Public Library manages two libraries. One in Jeffersonville and the other in Clarksville, Indiana...
in Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It is directly across the Ohio River to the north of Louisville, Kentucky along I-65. The population was 44,953 at the 2010 census...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Untitled was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's
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...
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....
survey in 1993. This abstract sculpture represents the Devonian
Devonian
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya , to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya...
time period.
Description
The sculpture, which looks like a sea creature, comprises numerous tentacles of varying lengths that stream up and out from a main stem. The stem is mounted on a rectangular base made of Indiana limestoneIndiana Limestone
Indiana Limestone, also known as Bedford Limestone is a common regional term for Salem limestone, a geological formation primarily quarried in south central Indiana between Bloomington and Bedford....
(approx. 83 x 20 x 20 in.) and weighs 400 lbs.
A plaque sits nearby mounted on a piece of driftwood
Driftwood
Driftwood is wood that has been washed onto a shore or beach of a sea or river by the action of winds, tides, waves or man. It is a form of marine debris or tidewrack....
stating:
- THE SCULPTURE DISPLAYED ON THE EAST COLONADE REPRESENTS
- ITS CREATOR'S IMPRESSIONS OF THE DEVONIAN TIME PERIOD WHEN
- THE FALLS OF THE OHIO FOSSIL BEDS WERE BEING FORMED.
- THOUGH THE GRACEFULLY OUTSTRETCHING TENTACLES HAVE A
- CRUSTY FOSSILIFEROUS LOOK, THE SCULPTOR, BARNEY BRIGHT, DESCRIBES
- THE GENTLY FLOWING LINES OF HIS SCULPTURE AS EXPRESSING THE
- FIRST MOVEMENT OF LIFE REACHING OUT FROM THE SEA TO THE EARTH.
- THE WORK IS COPOSED OF COPPER TUBING WELDED OVER WITH
- 400 POUNDS OF BRONZE. THE BENCH-BASE ON WHICH THE
- SCULPTURE RESTS IS MADE OF INDIANA LIMESTONE.
Information
The sculpture, which cost $7,500, was originally located on a limestone bench fifteen feet from its current location. Between 1977 and early 1978 it was moved and installed on a higher base to help prevent vandalism. The museum was renovated in 2007 and the sculpture was moved inside and placed within one of the many fountains (representing the Falls) that were built.Bright describes the sculpture as representing the Devonian time period, which is the era when the Falls of the Ohio were being formed. According to the SOS! survey the sculpture " the tentacled sculpture represents life reaching out for the sea and covering the earth." Local controversy ensued due to the scientific nature of the sculpture upon its installation.