Chance Meeting, (sculpture).

Chance Meeting, (sculpture).

Segal, George, 1924-2000, sculptor.

Browne, Sean K. L., 1953- , contractor.

Chance Meeting, (sculpture).

1991. Dedicated June 18, 1992.

Digital Reference:

Overall: approx. 123 x 41 x 55 in.

(On one side of upper directional sign on signpost:) MAUKA (On other side of upper sign:) MAKAI (On one side of lower directional sign:) EWA (On other side of lower sign:) KOKO HEAD unsigned

Life-sized full-length figures of one man and two women standing facing towards each other in a circle on a sidewalk in front of a signpost. All three are wearing clothes appropriate to a northeastern city on the mainland, including garments such as turtleneck sweaters and knee-length or longer overcoats. The man has his hands clasped together behind his back, while both women have their hands in their coat pockets. One woman wears slacks and low-heeled shoes, has a handbag slung over her proper left shoulder, and eyeglasses propped up on top of her head. The other woman is wearing high-heeled shoes and a turtleneck sweater beneath her overcoat. Behind the man is a pole with two directional signs at its top, each pointing towards a different named, local Hawaiian destination on each side.

Figure male -- Full length

Figure female -- Full length

Recreation -- Leisure -- Conversation

Object -- Other -- Sign

Dress -- Accessory -- Handbag

Dress -- Accessory -- Eye wear

Outdoor Sculpture -- Hawaii -- Honolulu

Administered by State of Hawaii, State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Art in Public Places Program, 250 South Hotel Street, 2nd Floor, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Located University of Hawaii at Manoa, Dole Street, on side of the William S. Richardson School of Law library, Honolulu, Hawaii

Acquired from Sidney Janis Gallery, New York, New York

The sculpture is one of an edition of six, and depicts three people engaged in conversation on a street corner in New York City. The sculpture has been made more specific to its site by replacing the words "ONE WAY" on its directional signs with terms referring to the mauka/makai mall between the University of Hawaii, Manoa Campus law school library and administration building. The sculpture invites interaction by passers-by, in part due to the artist's placement of the figures in the context of whole settings and in part to the juxtaposition of their east-coast attire with their tropical setting. The sculpture was acquired at a cost of $500,000 through a one percent for art program in conjunction with the construction of the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii, Manoa campus. It was installed by Hawaiian artist Sean K. L. Browne, and was cleaned in 1993 after being vandalized. On nearby plaque: State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Art in Public Places/George Segal/Chance Meeting/Cast Bronze, 1991/State of Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services. IAS files contain a copy of the dedication program, and related articles from Hawaii Artreach 8 (Jan.-Feb. 1992): pg. 11; Hawaii Artreach 8 (July-Aug. 1992): pg. 1, 4; The Honolulu Advertiser, June 17, 1992, pg. C-3; and The Honolulu Sunday Star-Bulletin and Advertiser, June 28, 1992, pg. E-8. IAS files contain detailed dimensions of each figure.

State of Hawaii, State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, 1996.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Hawaii survey, 1994.

Honolulu Sunday Star-Bulletin and Advertiser, June 28, 1992, pg. E-8.

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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