Sundial, (sculpture).

Sundial, (sculpture).

Greening, Charles, 1949- , sculptor.

Lazare, Kim, sculptor.

Haag, Richard, landscape architect.

Sundial, (sculpture).

Gasworks Sundial, (sculpture).

Gasworks Memorial Sundial, (sculpture).

Digital Reference:

Mixed media: inlaid and cast bronze, colored concrete, shells, marble pieces, beads, marbles, found objects, and bricks.

Approx. Diam. 27 ft. 9 in.

(Plaque embedded in sculpture provides instructions as to how viewer may cast his/her shadow, acting as the gnomon of the sundial, in order to tell the time) (On plaque, lower right corner:) (copyright symbol) CHUCK GREENING AND KIM LAZARE signed

Gigantic sundial designed as a pavement that involves the viewer, who plays the role of the gnomon in determining the time. Sculpture is made of inlaid and cast bronze, shells, ceramic, and found objects, embedded in multi-colored concrete. The overall plan is circular, the outer perimeter established by a pavement of brick. Within, the sundial is approximately shell-shaped, with a centralized oval embellished with an inlaid bronze calendar and astrological signs. Sculpture contains many surprise elements, such as bronze casts of hands, moon, sun, sea creatures, and the feet of artist Greening and the project's anonymous donor.

Object -- Other -- Sundial

Figure -- Fragment -- Hand

Figure -- Fragment -- Foot

Outdoor Sculpture -- Washington -- Seattle

City of Seattle, Seattle Arts Commission, 312 1st Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98109

Located Gasworks Park, North Northlake Way & Burke Avenue North, On top of the Great Mound, Seattle, Washington

IAS files contain transcription from plaque embedded in sculpture. Sculpture evolved as part of a public works project to create Gas Works Park out of the remains of an inoperative gasworks overlooking Lake Union. Haag oversaw the project and collaborated with Greening on the design of the sundial. Funds were provided by an anonymous donor. John Purcell, gnomonist, assisted with the sundial's design. Artist Lazare assisted with installation. The site of the sundial is a man-made hill, known as the Great Mound, which overlooks Gas Works Park, Lake Union, and the city of Seattle.

IAS files contain related excerpts from James M. Rupp's "Art in Seattle's Public Places," Seattle: Univ. of Washington Press c. 1992, pg. 197, 199, which lists title as Sundial and gives 1979 as execution date; and excerpt from "A Field Guide to Seattle's Public Art," Seattle Arts Commission, 1991, pg. 18, 54, which gives title as Sundial and execution date of 1978.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Washington survey, 1994.

Rupp, James M., "Art in Seattle's Public Places," Seattle: Univ. of Washington Press, 1992, pg. 197-198.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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