Ballet Olympia - Atlanta, GA - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

These large bronze female nudes with ribbons surrounding them are adapted by John C. Portman from the original sculpture that was created by Paul Manship. The Manship inspiration, titled Maened, was only 3 feet tall. These Portman dancing females are 15 feet high and are mounted on 8 feet tall bases. Each dancer's arms, legs and ribbons take up about a 25 square feet area around their base. As stated in the SIRIS description, "Two nude female figures stand on separate bases and dance while holding swirling sashes above their heads and around their bodies. Each figure holds a sash with her upraised proper left hand while standing on her proper right leg, her proper left leg raised behind her."
In classical Greek mythology, a Maenad is a female diciple of the goddess Dionysis. A Maenad would travel around collecting tribute to her goddess and if none were given, the Maenad would create chaos through uncontrolled sexual behavior, ecstatic frenzy, wild dancing, intoxication, etc. Knowing this symbology of a Maenad gives better appreciation of John Portman's two nude female dancers and their uninhibited positions of dance.
On one of the bases is a bronze plaque with the following inscription:

"Ballet Olympia
1991-1992
Paul Manship (1885-1960)
Conceived and designed by John Portman,
this group, Ballet Olympia, was adapted
from Paul Manship's three-foot bronze figure,
Maened (1953), as a tribute to this renowned
American Sculptor."


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TITLE: Ballet Olympia, (sculpture) ARTIST(S): John C. Portman DATE: 1992 MEDIUM: Sculpture: bronze; base: granite clad steel CONTROL NUMBER: IAS GA000077 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: SunTrust Plaza 303 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta, GA 30308 (near the intersection of Peachtree Street NE and Baker Street NE) DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: none noted

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