Hadzi has specifically referred to the former land bridge called Bridge of the Gods near Cascade Locks,[4] and has also said the piece represents "man's power over nature and the taming of the wilderness".[3] Originally, he intended to cast a bronze sculpture, but changed his mind after viewing natural geological formations along the Columbia River Gorge.[3] The General Services Administration refers to the sculpture as a "monumental stone arch",[3] while The Oregonian describes River Legend as a "street-level, dark-hued arch, made edgy by blond spiky protrusions around one segment".[2]
Plaque for the sculpture
Despite being publicly financed, the sculpture was initially hidden from general public view because the Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt Federal Building's original architect believed the arch competed with the building's design. It was installed on the building's plaza and was visible to occupants and visitors, but not from the street.[2] Hadzi constructed a full-size cardboard replica to illustrate to the architect how it would look outside the building; according to Hadzi, the architect eventually realized "it was a mistake not to have [the sculpture] up front".[2] The arch's five sections were originally built on-site by the artist. According to the General Services Administration, he "worked the surface of the stones with a variety of treatments and carefully pinned and fitted the sections together with minimal joinery".[3]
The sculpture in 2018
River Legend was relocated to the exterior in 2013 after the Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt Federal Building underwent a major renovation.[2] According to the Smithsonian Institution, the work remains administered by General Services Administration's Art-in-Architecture Program.[1]
Though not currently on display, the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection includes a maquette of River Legend. The cast bronze maquette measures 11 1/8 x 15 x 7 in. (28.1 x 38.0 x 17.9 cm) and is set on a marble base.[5]
Receptionedit
In his review for The Oregonian, Len Reed said the sculpture "seemed to offer relief, as if it were a jolt of reckless nature amid all the glass and concrete and metal. It seemed at once ancient and modern. It seemed to hold a secret."[2] Furthermore, he said:
River Legend may be decades old, but its energy is all new and very, very public. Whether the pleasure it produces is encoded in cells or the result of some mysterious learning doesn't really matter. The ancient rock soars. That's true even if its nifty fins are wood shims to prevent a crack from expanding. Somehow amid moving, storing, and re-siting, a segment of the columnar basalt let go and requires an injection of epoxy to hold. It wouldn't be crazy to think of the sculpture for now as a songbird with a leg splint. Such a small price for a new life.[2]
^ abc"River Legend, (sculpture)". Smithsonian Institution. from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
^ abcdefghReed, Len (May 8, 2013). "'River Legend,' once a downtown secret, gets a new life: Editorial sketchbook". The Oregonian. from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
^ abcdef"Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building: Art in Architecture Program" (PDF). General Services Administration. July 2014. from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
^"River Legend, 1976". cultureNOW. from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
^"Maquette for River Legend". Smithsonian Institution. from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
External linksedit
Public Commissions at DimitriHadzi.com
December 15, 2023
river, legend, outdoor, 1976, basalt, sculpture, american, artist, dimitri, hadzi, located, outside, edith, green, wendell, wyatt, federal, building, portland, oregon, sculpture, outside, edith, green, wendell, wyatt, federal, building, 2015artistdimitri, hadz. River Legend is an outdoor 1976 basalt sculpture by American artist Dimitri Hadzi located outside of the Edith Green Wendell Wyatt Federal Building in Portland Oregon River LegendThe sculpture outside of the Edith Green Wendell Wyatt Federal Building in 2015ArtistDimitri HadziCompletion dateMay 1976 1976 05 TypeSculptureMediumBasaltDimensions3 0 m 0 91 m 4 0 m 10 ft 3 ft 13 ft LocationPortland Oregon United StatesCoordinates45 30 51 N 122 40 39 W 45 51429 N 122 67752 W 45 51429 122 67752OwnerGeneral Services Administration Contents 1 Description and history 2 Reception 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDescription and history editRiver Legend designed by American artist Dimitri Hadzi is a basalt sculpture installed outside the Edith Green Wendell Wyatt Federal Building in downtown Portland It was commissioned for 65 000 in the 1970s by the General Services Administration s Art in Architecture Program and completed in September 1976 1 2 The allegorical sculpture rivers measures 10 feet 3 0 m x 3 feet 0 91 m x 13 feet 4 0 m according to the Smithsonian Institution or approximately 2 feet 0 61 m x 14 feet 4 3 m x 14 feet 4 3 m according to the General Services Administration 1 3 The 10 000 pound 4 500 kg arch is made of Columbia Basin basalt and named after a natural crossing that spanned the Columbia River and allowed tribes to interact according to Native American lore 2 3 Hadzi has specifically referred to the former land bridge called Bridge of the Gods near Cascade Locks 4 and has also said the piece represents man s power over nature and the taming of the wilderness 3 Originally he intended to cast a bronze sculpture but changed his mind after viewing natural geological formations along the Columbia River Gorge 3 The General Services Administration refers to the sculpture as a monumental stone arch 3 while The Oregonian describes River Legend as a street level dark hued arch made edgy by blond spiky protrusions around one segment 2 nbsp Plaque for the sculptureDespite being publicly financed the sculpture was initially hidden from general public view because the Edith Green Wendell Wyatt Federal Building s original architect believed the arch competed with the building s design It was installed on the building s plaza and was visible to occupants and visitors but not from the street 2 Hadzi constructed a full size cardboard replica to illustrate to the architect how it would look outside the building according to Hadzi the architect eventually realized it was a mistake not to have the sculpture up front 2 The arch s five sections were originally built on site by the artist According to the General Services Administration he worked the surface of the stones with a variety of treatments and carefully pinned and fitted the sections together with minimal joinery 3 nbsp The sculpture in 2018River Legend was relocated to the exterior in 2013 after the Edith Green Wendell Wyatt Federal Building underwent a major renovation 2 According to the Smithsonian Institution the work remains administered by General Services Administration s Art in Architecture Program 1 Though not currently on display the Smithsonian American Art Museum s collection includes a maquette of River Legend The cast bronze maquette measures 11 1 8 x 15 x 7 in 28 1 x 38 0 x 17 9 cm and is set on a marble base 5 Reception editIn his review for The Oregonian Len Reed said the sculpture seemed to offer relief as if it were a jolt of reckless nature amid all the glass and concrete and metal It seemed at once ancient and modern It seemed to hold a secret 2 Furthermore he said River Legend may be decades old but its energy is all new and very very public Whether the pleasure it produces is encoded in cells or the result of some mysterious learning doesn t really matter The ancient rock soars That s true even if its nifty fins are wood shims to prevent a crack from expanding Somehow amid moving storing and re siting a segment of the columnar basalt let go and requires an injection of epoxy to hold It wouldn t be crazy to think of the sculpture for now as a songbird with a leg splint Such a small price for a new life 2 See also edit nbsp Oregon portal nbsp Visual arts portal1976 in art Art in ArchitectureReferences edit a b c River Legend sculpture Smithsonian Institution Archived from the original on April 2 2015 Retrieved March 7 2015 a b c d e f g h Reed Len May 8 2013 River Legend once a downtown secret gets a new life Editorial sketchbook The Oregonian Archived from the original on April 2 2015 Retrieved March 7 2015 a b c d e f Edith Green Wendell Wyatt Federal Building Art in Architecture Program PDF General Services Administration July 2014 Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Retrieved January 12 2016 River Legend 1976 cultureNOW Archived from the original on April 2 2015 Retrieved March 8 2015 Maquette for River Legend Smithsonian Institution Archived from the original on April 2 2015 Retrieved March 8 2015 External links editPublic Commissions at DimitriHadzi com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title River Legend amp oldid 1159945749, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
