James Dean, (sculpture).

James Dean, (sculpture).

Kendall, Kenneth, sculptor.

EPEOE Neon Ietaminoe, founder.

James Dean, (sculpture).

1955-1956. Installed 1988.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: concrete.

Sculpture: approx. 17 in. x 1 ft. x 1 ft.; Base: approx. H. 5 ft.

(Incised on base:) JAMES DEAN (On plaque on front:) JAMES DEAN/1931 1955/KEY SCENES FROM THE/CLASSIC MOTION PICTURE "REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE"/WERE FILMED AT THE GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY/IN SPRING 1955. ALTHOUGH MANY MOVIES/HAVE BEEN FILMED AT GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY,/"REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE" WAS THE FIRST TO/PORTRAY THE OBSERVATORY AS WHAT IT IS AND TO CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THE/OBSERVATORY'S INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION./THIS MONUMENT ACKNOWLEDGES GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY'S LONG AND CONTINUOUS/INVOLVEMENT WITH HOLLYWOOD FILM/PRODUCTION BY REMEMBERING THE YOUNG/STAR OF THAT MOTION PICTURE (On second plaque:) 1931 JAMES DEAN 1955/THIS IS NOT A MONUMENT TO A REBEL, THOSE/WERE ONLY ROLES HE PLAYED. JAMES DEAN/WAS AN AMERICAN ORIGINAL WHO ON A BASIS/OF HIGH SCHOOL HONORS AND A PERIOD OF FIVE/YEARS TIME ROSE TO THE VERY PINNACLE OF/THE THEATRICAL PROFESSION AND THROUGH/THE MAGIC OF MOTION PICTURES LIVES ON/IN LEGEND./PRESENTED IN 1988 BY THE ARTIST/KENNETH KENDALL WHO SCULPTED IT IN/1955-1956 AT THE REQUEST OF JAMES DEAN/AND DEDICATES IT TO HIS MEMORY./IT ENDED WITH HIS BODY CHANGED/TO LIGHT/A STAR BURNS FOREVER IN/THAT SKY/"THE FLIGHT OF QUETZALCOATL"/AZTEC POEM Founder's mark appears

Portrait bust of James Dean, full wavy hair brushed back. Profiles of Dean also appear in relief on the two plaques.

Portrait male -- Dean, James -- Bust

Performing Arts -- Theater -- Performer

Outdoor Sculpture -- California -- Los Angeles

Administered by City of Los Angeles, Cultural Affairs Department, Public Art Division, 433 South Spring Street, 10th floor, Los Angeles, California 90013

Located Griffith Park Observatory, Los Angeles, California

Presented by the artist to the city of Los Angeles in 1988. James Dean (1931-1955) was a film actor. Dean approached the artist in January 1955, to request the sculpture.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, California survey, 1995.

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

Control Number:

Horizon Information Portal 3.25_9382

Powered by SirsiDynix

About | © 2020 Smithsonian | Terms of Use | Privacy | Contact

SIRIS - Smithsonian Institution Research Information System