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Astronomers Monument

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"Look to the Sky at the Astronomers Monument, Griffith Observatory 2018" (Photograph by Louise Norris via Wikimedia Commons)

TheAstronomers Monumentin front ofGriffith ObservatoryinLos Angeles, Californiais aNew Deal artworkcreated under the auspices of thePublic Works of Art Project.The large outdoor concrete sculpture honors the work of six greatastronomersand is aGriffith Parklandmark in its own right.

History and design[edit]

TheAstronomers Monumentpays homage to six of the greatest astronomers of all time:Hipparchus(fl. 150 BC),Nicolaus Copernicus(1473–1543),Galileo Galilei(1564–1642),Johannes Kepler(1571–1630),Isaac Newton(1642–1727), andWilliam Herschel(1738–1822).

In December 1933, theLos Angeles Park Commissionand thePublic Works of Art Project(PWAP) commissioned a sculpture project for the grounds of the under-construction Griffith Observatory. Using a design by local artistArchibald Garnerand materials donated by the Women's Auxiliary of theLos Angeles Chamber of Commerce,six artists—Garner,Roger Noble Burnham(creator ofUSC'sTommy Trojan),Djey El Djey(1905-1980, real name Djey Owens),Gordon Newell(1905–1998),[1]George Stanley(creator of the famousOscarstatuette presented at theAcademy Awards), andArnold Foerster(1878–1943)—sculpted and cast the concrete monument and figures.[2]Each artist was responsible for sculpting one astronomer: Stanley did Newton,[3]Garner sculpted Copernicus,[4]Newell was responsible for Kepler,[5]etc. (Burnhammayhave created the depiction of Hershel; the authorship of the Hipparchus and Galileo figures is unclear.)

According to theLos Angeles Timesart criticArthur Millierin 1934, the "original idea" was Foerster's, and he was "responsible for the delicate engineering entailed in pouring a forty-foot concrete shaft."[2]The monument is topped with anarmillary sphere,originally concrete, replaced with a bronze piece in 1991.[4]

On November 25, 1934, almost six months prior to the opening of the Observatory on May 14, 1935, a celebration took place to mark completion of theAstronomers Monument.The only "signature" on theAstronomers Monumentis "PWAP 1934," referring to the program which funded the project and the year in which it was completed.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Gordon Newell - Biography".askart.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-10-15.Retrieved2022-10-15.
  2. ^abMillier, Arthur(June 3, 1934). "Art Withstands Scrutiny of Hard-Boiled Politicians: Planetarium Obelisk, Park Fountain, Other, Massive Works Continue Under F.E.R.A.".Los Angeles Times.p. 2.
  3. ^Nichols, Chris (February 26, 2016)."Meet George Stanley, Sculptor of the Academy Award Los Angeles Magazine".Los Angeles Magazine.Retrieved2022-10-15.
  4. ^ab"Astronomers Monument, (sculpture)".siris-artinventories.si.edu.Retrieved2022-10-15.
  5. ^"Jeff gerner, Astronomer's Monument, Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles".publicartinla.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-10-13.Retrieved2022-10-15.
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