Otis Bowen (bust)
Encyclopedia
Otis Bowen is a bronze
bust of Dr. Otis Bowen, who was the Governor of Indiana
from 1973–1981 and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services from 1985-1989 under President Ronald Reagan
.
bust depicts former Governor Otis R. Bowen in glasses and wearing a jacket, shirt and tie. The bust sits atop a wooden base to which a plaque is attached that reads "OTIS R. BOWEN, M.D. / GOVERNOR / JANUARY 8, 1973 - JANUARY 12, 1981." The bust and base sit within an alcove on the second floor of the Indiana Statehouse directly across the hall from the House of Representatives. A plaque attached to the wall under the alcove reads:
The back of the bust is signed by both Governor Bowen and artist Lou Ann Lanagan, and is dated 1981.
photographs taken of the governor by artist Lou Ann Lanagan, a personal friend of Bowen's. Lanagan chose to portray Bowen smiling to reflect his open personality. Using the lost-wax casting process, Lanagan created the final bust in bronze.
Three copies were made of the bust: one resides in the rotunda of the Indiana Statehouse, one at Bethel College
, and another belongs to Ball State University
, where it stands in the Archives and Special Collections Research Center in Bracken Library
.
. Lanagan has stated that she prefers to sculpt men over the age of 50 .
Bronze
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...
bust of Dr. Otis Bowen, who was the Governor of Indiana
Governor of Indiana
The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...
from 1973–1981 and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services from 1985-1989 under President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
.
Description
The 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...
bust depicts former Governor Otis R. Bowen in glasses and wearing a jacket, shirt and tie. The bust sits atop a wooden base to which a plaque is attached that reads "OTIS R. BOWEN, M.D. / GOVERNOR / JANUARY 8, 1973 - JANUARY 12, 1981." The bust and base sit within an alcove on the second floor of the Indiana Statehouse directly across the hall from the House of Representatives. A plaque attached to the wall under the alcove reads:
- "Dr. Bowen was the first / Governor to serve two / consecutive four year / terms since adoption of the / 1851 Indiana Constitution. / This bust was given to the / people of Indiana in 1983 by / the artist, Lou Ann Lanagan, / of Indianapolis, / and the committee / for a Bowen portrait.
The back of the bust is signed by both Governor Bowen and artist Lou Ann Lanagan, and is dated 1981.
Historical information
In 1981, the original model of the bust was made in clay based on PolaroidPolaroid Corporation
Polaroid Corporation is an American-based international consumer electronics and eyewear company, originally founded in 1937 by Edwin H. Land. It is most famous for its instant film cameras, which reached the market in 1948, and continued to be the company's flagship product line until the February...
photographs taken of the governor by artist Lou Ann Lanagan, a personal friend of Bowen's. Lanagan chose to portray Bowen smiling to reflect his open personality. Using the lost-wax casting process, Lanagan created the final bust in bronze.
Three copies were made of the bust: one resides in the rotunda of the Indiana Statehouse, one at Bethel College
Bethel College (Indiana)
Bethel College is a Christian liberal arts institution located in Mishawaka , Indiana, United States. It was established in 1947 by a Mennonite group which was one of the founding members of the Missionary Church...
, and another belongs to Ball State University
Ball State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
, where it stands in the Archives and Special Collections Research Center in Bracken Library
Bracken Library
This article is about the library in Muncie, Indiana. For the library in Kingston, Ontario see Bracken Health Sciences Library.The Alexander M. Bracken Library is the main library on the campus of Ball State University...
.
Artist
Sculptor Lou Ann Lanagan was not professionally trained as an artist, but became interested in sculpting after watching her dentist work with dental plaster. Lanagan commented to her dentist that the work looked like fun, so he challenged her to make the likeness of a human face out of clay. Starting with a bust of her husband, Lanagan soon moved on to produce busts of other prominent Indiana businessmen, including Eli LillyEli Lilly (industrialist)
Eli Lilly was a pharmaceutical industrialist and philanthropist from Indiana, United States.- Business :Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Eli Lilly was President of Eli Lilly and Company. He was named for his grandfather, Colonel Eli Lilly, who founded the family business...
. Lanagan has stated that she prefers to sculpt men over the age of 50 .
See also
- Benjamin Harrison (Peglow)
- Colonel Richard Owen (Kinney Scholz)
- Frank O'Bannon (Ryden)
- Henry F. Schricker (Rubins)
- Matthew E. Welsh (Edwards)
- Robert D. Orr (Ingle)
- Sherman Minton (Gage)
- Stephen Neal (Leonard)