Freedom of Communication, (sculpture).

Freedom of Communication, (sculpture).

Watrous, James, sculptor.

Orville Madsen & Sons Company, engineering firm.

John J. Flad & Associates, architectural firm.

Freedom of Communication, (sculpture).

Communication, (sculpture).

Commissioned 1971. 1971-1973. Dedicated May 12, 1973.

Glass tesserae, plywood, epoxy, and brass with patina.

Approx. 18 ft. x 12 ft. 6 in. x 1 1/2 in.

(On lower left panel by figure's proper right foot:) "JW" (On rectangular wood piece at bottom, in brass letters:) FREEDOM OF COMMUNICATION, WITH ITS MULTITUDE OF TONGUES/TRANSMITS FOR ALL THE CREATIVE IMPULSES OF OUR PLURALISTIC SOCIETY signed

Sculpture is a brightly colored mosaic inspired by Supreme Court decisions on freedom of speech, with depictions of nude figures of different races, colored white, red, black, and yellow. In the center are two large central figures of a female and a male. She wears only a scarf, her body and skin color merging with the man standing behind her, his head turned to the left. They are flanked by four polygonal panels, one in each corner, each with a figure making communicative gestures, their heads turned toward the central figures. In the upper left panel is a female, with male figures in the remaining panels. Panels are each connected to the two central figures by a brass plated arrow-shaped connector representing Language. The mosaic is on a plywood backing, attached to a brick wall by steel hangers and bolts.

Figure group -- Nude

Allegory -- Civic -- Law

Allegory -- Civic -- Liberty

Allegory -- Civic -- Unity

Ethnic -- African American

Ethnic -- Chinese

Ethnic -- Indian

Outdoor Sculpture -- Wisconsin -- Madison

Administered by University of Wisconsin-Madison, Physical Plant, 201 Service Building, Madison, Wisconsin 53706

Located University of Wisconsin-Madison, Vilas Communication Hall, 821 University Avenue, A. Matt Werner Journalism Court, Madison, Wisconsin

Sculpture was commissioned by the University for the new School of Journalism Building, Vilas Hall, and cost $10,894.82. IAS files contain tentative budget, dated April 12, 1971 (including final costs); architectural design from John J. Flad & Associates, dated Aug. 18, 1971; excerpt from Frances W. Hurst's "A Common Joy," 1991, pg. 42-43; newspaper article from the Wisconsin State Journal, May 12, 1973, pg. 4; article from the Wisconsin Alumnus 77 (July 1976): pg. 7-9; and correspondence from the artist, dated May 3, 1972 and Sept. 27, 1973.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Wisconsin survey, 1993.

Wisconsin Alumnus 77 (July 1976): pg. 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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