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User:Swbamboo/Father and Son (Bourgeois)

Coordinates: 47°36′54″N 122°21′19″W / 47.61504°N 122.355173°W / 47.61504; -122.355173
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Father and Son
The fountain and sculpture in 2008
Map
ArtistLouise Bourgeois
Year2005 (2005)
Type
  • Fountain
  • sculpture
Medium
  • Stainless steel
  • aluminum
  • water
  • bronze
LocationSeattle, Washington, United States
Coordinates47°36′54″N 122°21′19″W / 47.61504°N 122.355173°W / 47.61504; -122.355173

Father and Son (Bourgeois)

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Father and Son is an outdoor 2005 fountain and sculpture by Louise Bourgeois, installed at Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle, Washington. It is made of stainless steel, aluminum, water and bronze (bell).[1]

Background

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Louse Bourgeois created Father and Son in 2005 after being commissioned by the Seattle Art Museum on behalf of Stu Smailes[2], a local art philanthropist who passed away in 2002[3]. Smailes donated $1 million to the city after his death, and requested that it be used to create a sculpture in the city featuring a nude male[4]. Bourgeois collaborated on the design and installation of this piece with ORA, a local architecture studio[5].

Appearance

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The 15-foot fountain and sculpture depicts a naked man and a naked boy reaching out to each other. At timed intervals, two separate sides of the fountain will either rise or fall to reveal or obscure one figure or the other[2].

Controversy

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Father and Son was the first public sculpture in Seattle featuring nude figures. While the SAM’s statement on the artwork focuses on the emotional distance and vulnerability of the two figures[2], others in the local community saw the sculptures as overtly sexual and pedophilic[4].

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Father and Son". Seattle Art Museum. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  2. ^ a b c Farr, Sheila (2005-09-28). "Gift to bring first outdoor nude to city". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  3. ^ "Stuart Smailes Obituary (2002) The Seattle Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  4. ^ a b Verhovek, Sam Howe (Oct 03, 2005). "Sculpture has no clothes--and no taste, either, critics say". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2022-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ onioneye. "Louise Bourgeois Fountain « ORA". Retrieved 2022-02-12.
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Category:2005 establishments in Washington (state) Category:2005 sculptures Category:Aluminum sculptures in Washington (state) Category:Bronze sculptures in Washington (state) Category:Fountains in Washington (state) Category:Olympic Sculpture Park Category:Outdoor sculptures in Seattle Category:Sculptures of men in Washington (state) Category:Stainless steel sculptures in Washington (state) Category:Statues in Seattle Category:Works by Louise Bourgeois Category:2000s in Seattle