Untitled (L's)
Encyclopedia
Untitled, a public sculpture by American artist David Von Schlegell
, is located on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
campus, which is near downtown Indianapolis
, Indiana
. The sculpture is located just north of Joseph Taylor Hall in a grassy courtyard adjacent to Michigan Street. Cavanaugh hall frames the courtyard to the west, the library and Business building are east of the courtyard. This sculpture was created in 1978, and installed at IUPUI in 1980. The sculpture is a Minimalist
composition of three identical steel L's. The L structures have a vertical beam that is 55 feet (16.8 m) tall and a horizontal beam of 45 feet (13.7 m). The beams themselves are 16 inches (40.6 cm) high and 12 inches (30.5 cm) wide.
The sculpture was installed in deep concrete
beds, insuring that it will not blow over due to a storm or heavy winds. The stainless surface had been finished such that the light reflecting of it makes the surface appear uneven and textural.
While the sculpture consists of three separate components, it function as one Minimalist sculpture that is conditioned for this location.
, Arthur Weber, Former Curator of the Indianapolis Museum of Art
, Diana Lazarus, and Edward Larrabee Barnes
, the master architect for IUPUI at the time.
The Untitled (L's) sculpture was paid for by the National Endowment for the Arts
under the "Works of Art for Public Spaces" program. The project cost $120,000 and five years to complete. The National Endowment for the Arts donated $50,000 to the project, the rest was paid for by private donations. The project was installed in 1980, and dedicated on October 7.
This sculpture is designed on the theme of the Pythagorean Theorem
. This theorem comes from geometry and states that square of the hypotenuse
of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. The three L structures are laid out so that the base point of the vertical columns form a large right triangle. The distance between the three points are 138 feet (42.1 m), 184 feet (56.1 m), and 230 feet (70.1 m). This gives the right triangle the classic 3:4:5 ratio
. The school found this theme appropriate, seeing as it represented a tradition of math, logic, and wisdom at IUPUI.
The artist intended for landscaping
to be a part of the sculpture as well. Before the installation of Von Schlegell's sculpture, the courtyard was two acres of concrete. Von Schlegell saw to it that grass was planted and that there be trees and bushes surrounding the courtyard. Originally, Von Schlegell had one path that stretched diagonal across the courtyard, dividing it into two traingluar shapes. This has sense been modified to accommodate more walking paths. The landscaping was meant to contrast his piece, accentuating the natural and manmade elements within the space.
Foundation. Other artists within the community criticized Von Schlegell, accusing him of compromising his vision as an artist. The critics believed that Von Schlegell's piece was not in fact about the pythagorean theorem, logic, wisdom, or any other virtues of the university. Rather, they thought he forced that premise on the sculpture, believing it increased his chances at being chosen.
. He studied at the University of Michigan
in the 1940s, and then entered the Air Force
. He made his return to art when he joined the Art Students League in New York. By the 1960s, Von Schlegell had established himself as a prominent sculptor.
He worked mostly with aluminum, steel, and wood. The ispiration for his industrial materials came from his love of aircrafts and boats. At the time of the installation of Untitled (L's), Von Schlegell was working as a faculty of the Yale School of Fine Arts.
In addition to sculpting, Von Schlegell also made paintings and drawings. After dedicating his Untitled (L's), he also had an exhibition in IUPUI's Lecture Hall and at the Herron School of Art displaying his photographs and drawings from the project.
He died on October 6, 1992 in New Haven, Connecticut at the age of 72.
Other works from David Von Schlegell are located at the following locations:
David von Schlegell
David Von Schlegell was an American abstract artist and sculptor.-Biography:David Von Schlegell was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1920, the son of American impressionist artist William von Schlegell. He studied at the University of Michigan in the 1940s, and then entered the United States Air Force...
, is located on the 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...
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...
. The sculpture is located just north of Joseph Taylor Hall in a grassy courtyard adjacent to Michigan Street. Cavanaugh hall frames the courtyard to the west, the library and Business building are east of the courtyard. This sculpture was created in 1978, and installed at IUPUI in 1980. The sculpture is a Minimalist
Minimalism
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
composition of three identical steel L's. The L structures have a vertical beam that is 55 feet (16.8 m) tall and a horizontal beam of 45 feet (13.7 m). The beams themselves are 16 inches (40.6 cm) high and 12 inches (30.5 cm) wide.
Description
The Untitled (L's) sculpture has three identical components and was fabricated by a yacht manufacturer in New York state. Each vertical beam measures 55 feet (16.8 m) tall and each horizontal beam is 45 feet (13.7 m) long. The beams themselves are 16 inches (40.6 cm) in height and 12 inches (30.5 cm) wide. Each component has a structural steel core with an 1/8 in layer of brushed stainless steel sheeting over the top.The sculpture was installed in deep concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
beds, insuring that it will not blow over due to a storm or heavy winds. The stainless surface had been finished such that the light reflecting of it makes the surface appear uneven and textural.
While the sculpture consists of three separate components, it function as one Minimalist sculpture that is conditioned for this location.
Information
The Untitled (L's) was realized as a result of a suggestion made by the former Secretary of IUPUI Faculty Council, Phillis Danielson. Von Schlegell's piece was selected from 100 submissions to be a permanent part of the IUPUI collection. A council of well-respected individuals in the art community selected the Untitled (L's). This committee included former Dean of the Herron School of ArtHerron 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....
, Arthur Weber, Former Curator 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...
, Diana Lazarus, and Edward Larrabee Barnes
Edward Larrabee Barnes
Edward Larrabee Barnes was a American architect.Barnes was born in Chicago, Illinois into a family he described as "incense-swinging High Episcopalians", consisting of Cecil Barnes, a lawyer, and Margaret Helen Ayer, recipient of a Pulitzer Prize for the novel Year of Grace...
, the master architect for IUPUI at the time.
The Untitled (L's) sculpture was paid for by the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
under the "Works of Art for Public Spaces" program. The project cost $120,000 and five years to complete. The National Endowment for the Arts donated $50,000 to the project, the rest was paid for by private donations. The project was installed in 1980, and dedicated on October 7.
This sculpture is designed on the theme of the Pythagorean Theorem
Pythagorean theorem
In mathematics, the Pythagorean theorem or Pythagoras' theorem is a relation in Euclidean geometry among the three sides of a right triangle...
. This theorem comes from geometry and states that square of the hypotenuse
Hypotenuse
In geometry, a hypotenuse is the longest side of a right-angled triangle, the side opposite the right angle. The length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle can be found using the Pythagorean theorem, which states that the square of the length of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the...
of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. The three L structures are laid out so that the base point of the vertical columns form a large right triangle. The distance between the three points are 138 feet (42.1 m), 184 feet (56.1 m), and 230 feet (70.1 m). This gives the right triangle the classic 3:4:5 ratio
Ratio
In mathematics, a ratio is a relationship between two numbers of the same kind , usually expressed as "a to b" or a:b, sometimes expressed arithmetically as a dimensionless quotient of the two which explicitly indicates how many times the first number contains the second In mathematics, a ratio is...
. The school found this theme appropriate, seeing as it represented a tradition of math, logic, and wisdom at IUPUI.
The artist intended for landscaping
Landscaping
Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including:# living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly referred to as gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal of creating a beautiful environment within the landscape.#...
to be a part of the sculpture as well. Before the installation of Von Schlegell's sculpture, the courtyard was two acres of concrete. Von Schlegell saw to it that grass was planted and that there be trees and bushes surrounding the courtyard. Originally, Von Schlegell had one path that stretched diagonal across the courtyard, dividing it into two traingluar shapes. This has sense been modified to accommodate more walking paths. The landscaping was meant to contrast his piece, accentuating the natural and manmade elements within the space.
Controversy
The Untitled (L's) sculpture was not very popular at the time of installation. Many students, including the student body president, mistakenly believed that the sculpture had been funded with the university's budget. In actuality, the funds came from the National Endowment for the Arts and private donations through 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...
Foundation. Other artists within the community criticized Von Schlegell, accusing him of compromising his vision as an artist. The critics believed that Von Schlegell's piece was not in fact about the pythagorean theorem, logic, wisdom, or any other virtues of the university. Rather, they thought he forced that premise on the sculpture, believing it increased his chances at being chosen.
Artist
David Von Schlegell (1920–1992) was born in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. He studied at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in the 1940s, and then entered the Air Force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
. He made his return to art when he joined the Art Students League in New York. By the 1960s, Von Schlegell had established himself as a prominent sculptor.
He worked mostly with aluminum, steel, and wood. The ispiration for his industrial materials came from his love of aircrafts and boats. At the time of the installation of Untitled (L's), Von Schlegell was working as a faculty of the Yale School of Fine Arts.
In addition to sculpting, Von Schlegell also made paintings and drawings. After dedicating his Untitled (L's), he also had an exhibition in IUPUI's Lecture Hall and at the Herron School of Art displaying his photographs and drawings from the project.
He died on October 6, 1992 in New Haven, Connecticut at the age of 72.
Other works from David Von Schlegell are located at the following locations:
-
- Storm King Art CenterStorm King Art CenterThe Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, New York is an open air museum which has extended the concept of a "sculpture garden" to become a "sculpture landscape." Founded in 1960 by Ralph E. Ogden as a museum for Hudson Valley painters, it soon expanded into a major sculpture venue with the...
, New York - Boston
- Miami Lakes, Florida
- Duluth, Minnesota
- Nasa Memorial to Robert Goddard at Clark UniversityClark UniversityClark University is a private research university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.Founded in 1887, it is the oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. Clark now also educates undergraduates...
, Worchester, Massachusetts - Saudi Arabian Royal Navy Headquarters
- Yeatmen's Cove Sculpture Project, Cincinnati
- Tulsa, Oklahoma International Airport
- San Francisco
- Hartford
- Marina Miami, Ohio
- Westward Cincinnati, Ohio
- Whitney Museum of Art
- Rhode Island School of DesignRhode Island School of DesignRhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
- Storm King Art Center