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 Barrier - Tucson, Arizona Posted by:  Max and 99
N 32° 14.053 W 110° 56.108
12S E 506111 N 3566399
Three-panel abstract located in Tucson's Himmel Park. The artist designed this piece to resemble the Iron Curtain.
Waymark Code: WM97DP
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 07/09/2010
Views: 19
This abstract sculpture is on the far west side of Himmel Park, next to a parking lot. It resembles three door-shaped steel pieces, with rebar sticking out of the top. Many probably think the sculpture is a work-in-progress since the crossed rebar at the type give the impression that more of the piece is yet to be installed.
There is a list of countries on the steel pieces, with some quotes on others. The three pieces are angled together like a tri-fold display board, with a strong foundation on the bottom.
Near the sculpture at Himmel Park is a library, tennis courts, and playground equipment.
From the Smithsonian Art database:
Description:
An abstract sculpture composed of three eight foot high panels of steel supported by a welded rebar superstructure and welded angle iron side braces. A grid-like array of rebar superstructure extends out above the top of each panel. The rebars extend below the panels as short stilts to elevate the sculpture over the flat concrete foundation. Five memorial bricks are set in the concrete foundation.
Inscription:
(Welded on lower left area of left panel:) Rosano (On front of left panel:) AFGHANISTAN/VIETNAM/ANGOLA/UKRAINE/BULGARIA/ROMANIA/BYELORUSSIA/POLAND/CAMBODIA (On front of center panel:) in Memory of/the millions of people/who have been killed and in Honor of those who continue to struggle for freedom in these nations held captive by Soviet Imperialism THE TUCSON CAPTIVE NATIONS COMMITTEE 1983 1986 (On front of right panel:) NORTH KOREA/CUBA/LITHUANIA/CZECHOSLOVAKIA/LATVIA/EAST GERMANY/LAOS/ESTONIA/HUNGARY signed
Dimensions:
Sculpture: approx. 14 x 10 x 4 ft.; Foundation: approx. W. 12 ft. x D. 5 ft. (2,300 lbs.).
Remarks:
The sculpture is dedicated to those who have been denied freedom in Soviet-controlled or Soviet-backed countries and was installed by the Captive Nations Coordinating Committee of Tucson. The names of nineteen captive countries are inscribed on the front of the sculpture. Funds for purchasing materials for the sculpture project were raised by the Cuban, Hungarian, Polish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese Clubs of Tucson. The sculpture replaced a sculpture, installed in 1983 by refugee families of the Captive Nations Committee, that had been severely vandalized. Five bricks from the first sculpture are set in the concrete foundation to honor the first effort.
The artist designed the sculpture to resemble the Iron Curtain. He stated that "the holes in it represent the holes where a few get out," and the steel "will hopefully rust away just as we hope the Iron Curtain will." Although Afghanistan appears as one of the captive countries inscribed on the front of the sculpture, local Afghans told the sculpture project organizers that they do not believe Afghan rebels have lost their war with Soviet troops.
Dale Birtch of Dale Birtch, Inc. was the structural engineer for the sculpture. Laco Construction and A & A Concrete donated the concrete and supplied the manpower to install the concrete foundation. Eddie Avilla of A & A Concrete was the concrete contractor. For related reading see "The Rosano Sculptures," 1984. IAS files contain a related article from the Arizona Daily Star, March 9, 1986; a dedication invitation; and a Summary of Events for the sculpture project.
TITLE: Barrier
ARTIST(S): Rosano, Aureleo, 1930- , sculptor. Birtch, Dale, engineer. Avilla, Eddie, contractor. Dale R. Birtch, Inc., engineering firm. Laco Construction, contractor. A & A Concrete, contractor.
DATE: Modeled 1985. 1986. Installed Jan. 29, 1986. Dedicated March 8, 1986.
MEDIUM: Sculpture: Cor-Ten steel, rebar, and angle iron; Foundation: concrete and brick.
CONTROL NUMBER: IAS AZ000581
Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]
PHYSICAL LOCATION:
Himmel Park; Tucson Blvd. and 2nd St.
DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH:
none
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date of your visit, your impressions of the sculpture, and at least ONE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. Add any additional information you may have, particularly any personal observations about the condition of the sculpture.
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