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Identification and Creation

Object Number
2019.7.24
People
Otto Piene, German (Laasphe, Westphalia, Germany 1928 - 2014 Berlin, Germany)
Title
Untitled (notes, left page); Untitled (adhered "Characterization Report" of the "Star Cluster," right page)
Other Titles
Series/Book Title: Sketchbook: Honolulu/Food Show/Boston
Classification
Drawings
Work Type
sketchbook page, drawing
Date
1974
Culture
German
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/374924

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Blue pen, typed black ink on paper, and adhesive on paper
Dimensions
open (approx.): 39.2 × 55.9 cm (15 7/16 × 22 in.)
Inscriptions and Marks
  • inscription: Right page, top; blue pen: 27 - 3 - 74
  • inscription: Right page; typed black ink: Otto Piene / Characterization Report / Star Cluster / Field Sculpture, Institute of Astronomy, University of Hawaii, Honolulu / The new buidling for the Institute of Astronomy does not have a domineering / facade, and it does not have prominent neighbors: nor is the two-story structure / particularly visible for the University of Hawaii campus. / It seems advisable, therefore, to concentrate my artistic efforts in the land-scaped courtyard that forms an inner focus to the Institue. Here the empty wall [of the im [crossed out in blue pen] / of the implementation buidling offers a very good area for an artwork. / Since trees will be silhouetted against the left and right portions of the wall / the middle area lends itself favorable to a wall sculpture. / This field sculpture will consist of ca. 150 stainless steel rods of lenghs / varying between one and five feet, each with an optically potent high-lead-content- / glass prism mounted on its tip. The rods will forma cluster of horizontally protruding / STAR STICKS. Their arrangement will follow an astronomical star cluster the image of / which will be contributed by sc entists [sic] of the U of H Institute of Astronomy (the / clients). / During the daytime the sun will cast long shadows of the rods on the wall painted / in an off-white color, and sunlight will also cast spectral projections originating / from the prisms onto the wall and other surfaces of the courtyard. The shadows and spectra / will wander and disappear and reaappear as the positions of the sun - and weather - / change - thus emphasizing seasonal and time change. / THe [sic] configurations of the prisms will be calculated by Institue of Astronomy or / M.I.T. personnel who will also advise on further detail of lighting that is to en- / hance night time effects of the field sculpture on special occasions (two wide-beam / lights, each on one side of the cluster; ca. 12' high on the wall). / The rods will be mounted out of reach of spectators so that vandalism is unlikely, / particularly since the courtyard will be enclosed completely. / The proposed field sculpture can be manufactured and installed by means that the / budget for this project allos for. Installation of STAR CLUSTER is schedule for / the month of July. The final design will be presented on May 7, '74.
  • inscription: Left page; blue pen: [cont. from 2019.7.23] sculpture on special occasions / (two wide-beam lights , each / on one side of the cluster; / ca. 12' high on the wall). / The rods will be mounted / out of reach of spectators so / that vandalism is unlikely, par- / ticularly since the coutyard / will be encolsed completely / the proposed field sculpture can be manufactured / and installed by means that the budge for this project / allows for. Installation of STAR / CLUSTER is scheduled for the / month of July. The final / design presentation [strikethrough] will be pre- / sented on May 7, 74. / O.p>

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Elizabeth Goldring Piene, gift; to the Busch-Reisinger Museum, 2018.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Busch-Reisinger Museum, Gift of Elizabeth Goldring Piene
Copyright
© Otto Piene Estate
Accession Year
2019
Object Number
2019.7.24
Division
Modern and Contemporary Art
Contact
am_moderncontemporary@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Pages 47-48

Subjects and Contexts

  • Animating the Page

Related Works

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Modern and Contemporary Art at am_moderncontemporary@harvard.edu