Untitled (Jazz Musicians)
Encyclopedia
Untitled is an outdoor sculpture by American artist John Spaulding
. It is located on the border of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
(IUPUI) campus, which is near downtown Indianapolis
, Indiana
and is on the corner intersection of Indiana Avenue
and West Street. The historic Madame Walker Theatre Center
is located across the street.
jazz musicians formed in bronze
. Each figure represents someone influential to the artist. His father James is playing guitar
, and his brother James Jr. is playing saxophone
. The bass player figure represents Larry Ridley, Freddie Hubbard is on trumpet
, and 'Killer Ray' Appleton is on the drums. All have ties to the area in which the sculpture is located. Each bronze linear figure has a circular bronze base welded at its feet, and is then situated upon a riser of concrete block. The dimensions of the sculpture as a whole are 8'5" x 19' x 19' (3 x 6 x 6 m). Each sculpture base is circular, approximately 1'6" (46 cm) in diameter and 1" (25 mm) in height. Each figure, not including its base, has a height of 8'5" (2.6 m). The exception is the seated drummer figure, which is approximately 4'6" (1.4 m) in height. Each figure has different width as follows: The saxophone player is 1'5" (1 in 5 in (43.18 cm)) wide, the bass player is 3'1" (3 in 1 in (93.98 cm)) wide, the drummer is 3'11" (3 in 11 in (119.38 cm)) wide, the trumpet player figure is 2'8" (2 in 8 in (81.28 cm)) wide, and the guitarist is 2'3" (2 in 3 in (68.58 cm)) wide.
It is a tribute to the rich Jazz
and musical heritage that was a part of the Indiana Avenue
district.
, Madame Walker Theatre Center
, and reminds all those who pass the of the rich cultural heritage that was and is part of this area of the IUPUI Campus. In addition, this sculpture stands near another of his sculptures, Jammin' on the Avenue
. Similarly, the Historic Lockefield Gardens
Apartments are nearby. This is significant due to the fact the artist himself was born here. Lockefield Gardens was a low income housing project built in Indianapolis
that mainly housed African American families. Today Lockefield Gardens
has been renovated and is home to IUPUI students, staff, faculty, and anyone wishing to live in this cultural tapestry. The sculpture can be found at the corner of West Street and Indiana Avenue
.
1989 campaign organized by Heritage Preservation: The National Institute of Conservation partnered with the Smithsonsian 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.
John Spaulding (artist)
John A. Spaulding was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was born in Lockefield Gardens, the city of Indianapolis' first public housing project. He was the youngest of five children. He attended Indianapolis Public Schools 24 and 26 and attended Arsenal Technical High School. He was a self-taught...
. It is located on the border 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) campus, which is near downtown Indianapolis
Indianapolis
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...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and is on the corner intersection of Indiana Avenue
Indiana Avenue
Indiana Avenue is a historic area in downtown and is one of six designated cultural districts in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana Avenue was, during its glory days, an African American cultural center of the area....
and West Street. The historic Madame Walker Theatre Center
Madame Walker Theatre Center
The historic Madame C.J. Walker Building, which houses the Madame Walker Theatre Center, has long symbolized the spirit of creativity and community pride in the City of Indianapolis. Named after America’s first self-made female millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker, the site represents the achievements,...
is located across the street.
Description
Untitled (Jazz Musicians) is a quintet of linearLinear
In mathematics, a linear map or function f is a function which satisfies the following two properties:* Additivity : f = f + f...
jazz musicians formed in bronze
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...
. Each figure represents someone influential to the artist. His father James is playing guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and his brother James Jr. is playing saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
. The bass player figure represents Larry Ridley, Freddie Hubbard is on trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, and 'Killer Ray' Appleton is on the drums. All have ties to the area in which the sculpture is located. Each bronze linear figure has a circular bronze base welded at its feet, and is then situated upon a riser of concrete block. The dimensions of the sculpture as a whole are 8'5" x 19' x 19' (3 x 6 x 6 m). Each sculpture base is circular, approximately 1'6" (46 cm) in diameter and 1" (25 mm) in height. Each figure, not including its base, has a height of 8'5" (2.6 m). The exception is the seated drummer figure, which is approximately 4'6" (1.4 m) in height. Each figure has different width as follows: The saxophone player is 1'5" (1 in 5 in (43.18 cm)) wide, the bass player is 3'1" (3 in 1 in (93.98 cm)) wide, the drummer is 3'11" (3 in 11 in (119.38 cm)) wide, the trumpet player figure is 2'8" (2 in 8 in (81.28 cm)) wide, and the guitarist is 2'3" (2 in 3 in (68.58 cm)) wide.
Information
Untitled (Jazz Musicians) was fabricated in 1995 and was commissioned by the Sexton Companies. The sculpture stands at the corner of West Street and Indiana AvenueIndiana Avenue
Indiana Avenue is a historic area in downtown and is one of six designated cultural districts in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana Avenue was, during its glory days, an African American cultural center of the area....
It is a tribute to the rich Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and musical heritage that was a part of the Indiana Avenue
Indiana Avenue
Indiana Avenue is a historic area in downtown and is one of six designated cultural districts in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana Avenue was, during its glory days, an African American cultural center of the area....
district.
Location history
The location of Untitled (Jazz Musicians) reflects the spirit of this sculpture. It faces West Street, Indiana AvenueIndiana Avenue
Indiana Avenue is a historic area in downtown and is one of six designated cultural districts in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana Avenue was, during its glory days, an African American cultural center of the area....
, Madame Walker Theatre Center
Madame Walker Theatre Center
The historic Madame C.J. Walker Building, which houses the Madame Walker Theatre Center, has long symbolized the spirit of creativity and community pride in the City of Indianapolis. Named after America’s first self-made female millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker, the site represents the achievements,...
, and reminds all those who pass the of the rich cultural heritage that was and is part of this area of the IUPUI Campus. In addition, this sculpture stands near another of his sculptures, Jammin' on the Avenue
Jammin' on the Avenue
Jammin' on the Avenue is an outdoor sculpture by American artist John Spaulding. It is located on the border of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus, which is near downtown Indianapolis, Indiana and is on the corner intersection of Indiana Avenue, North Street, and Blackford...
. Similarly, the Historic Lockefield Gardens
Lockefield Gardens
Lockefield Gardens was the first public housing built in Indianapolis. Built during the years of 1935 to 1938, it was built exclusively for low income blacks in Indianapolis. The complex was closed in 1976, and a number of structures were demolished in the early 1980s...
Apartments are nearby. This is significant due to the fact the artist himself was born here. Lockefield Gardens was a low income housing project built in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
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...
that mainly housed African American families. Today Lockefield Gardens
Lockefield Gardens
Lockefield Gardens was the first public housing built in Indianapolis. Built during the years of 1935 to 1938, it was built exclusively for low income blacks in Indianapolis. The complex was closed in 1976, and a number of structures were demolished in the early 1980s...
has been renovated and is home to IUPUI students, staff, faculty, and anyone wishing to live in this cultural tapestry. The sculpture can be found at the corner of West Street and Indiana Avenue
Indiana Avenue
Indiana Avenue is a historic area in downtown and is one of six designated cultural districts in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana Avenue was, during its glory days, an African American cultural center of the area....
.
Vandalism
In May 2011, the figure representing a saxophone player was broken off at the knees and stolen. The sculpture also suffered several other cuts. Police recovered the piece on June 13, 2011 after it was discovered in a trash bin and brought to a scrap yard for sale.Documentation
A Museum Studies course at IUPUI in collections care and management recently undertook the project of researching and reporting on the condition of 40 outdoor sculptures on the university campus. 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 Smithsonsian Institution, 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.