Murphy Scene - Sunnyvale, CA - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

The piece is tucked away in a corner by

The inventory describes it as: "Silhouettes of human figures, a red-tailed hawk, a sun and a fruit tree, set perhaps in an orchard. There are orchard workers, or farmers, four male figures with farming tools including, perhaps, a hoe and a shovel, and female figure and a child with a baseball bat and hat. The sculpture includes an elevated platform, supported by poles or beams set into a concrete base."

More information:

"Previously located at the end of Murphy Street, adjacent to the Macy’s parking lot, the large blue metal sculpture was commissioned by the City of Sunnyvale in 1988. Bay area artist John Battenberg created the piece specifically for Sunnyvale to honor its rich agricultural legacy. The artist created a “cut out” design that allowed the viewer to look beyond the sculpture to the distant mountains.

The sculpture has now found a new home at the Sunnyvale Community Center. It has been placed near the entrance to the Orchard Heritage Park Interpretive Exhibit, and once again, there is a natural backdrop for the piece." "http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/NR/rdonlyres/A524238B-64E8-42A1-9C0A-D1A1C9F75606/0/BP_Spring2002a.pdf"

TITLE: Murphy Scene ARTIST(S): Battenberg, John, 1931- , sculptor. DATE: 1988 MEDIUM: Sculpture: steel, painted blue; Base: concrete. CONTROL NUMBER: IAS CA000720 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: Located Murphy Avenue & Washington, Sunnyvale, California DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: No difference

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Date Logged Log   10/26/2009 saopaulo1 visited it

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