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Richards, Peter,
Gonzalez, George,
Lipps, Thomas,
Whitefield, Charles,
Tate, Joe,
Rivera, William,
Abstract
Architecture -- Boat
Architecture -- Classical
Architecture -- Ruins
Outdoor Sculpture -- California -- San Francisco
Site-specific
Sculpture
The Wave Organ, (sculpture).
Artist:
Richards, Peter, sculptor.
Gonzalez, George, sculptor.
Lipps, Thomas, sculptor.
Whitefield, Charles, assistant.
Tate, Joe, assistant.
Rivera, William, assistant.
Title:
The Wave Organ, (sculpture).
Dates:
Sept. 1985-1986.
Digital Reference:
Medium:
PVC pipes, marble, granite, red sandstone, cobblestone, and metal.
Dimensions:
Approx. H. 11 ft. x L. 62 ft. x D. 28 ft.
Inscription:
By Peter Richards and George Gonzalez,/with Thomas Lipps, William Rivera, Joe Tate,/and Charles Whitefield. Sponsored by the/Exploratorium and Dedicated to Frank/Oppenheimer (1912-1985), Founder and Di-/rector./Sound is created by the motion of waves.../The Stone used in the construction of this/work was once part of a cemetary in Laurel/Heights. The Jetty forming the Marina Yacht/Harbor was partially built with the material/taken from that cemetary, which was demol-/lished in the 1950's.//Major funding for the project was provided by/Mrs. Phyllis Wattis, Ruby Sisson Trust,/San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund,/The California Arts Council, The National Endowment for the/Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, The Flintridge/Foundation, and the Bothin Foundation./Additional funding was provided by the C./David Robinson Family, Kathy and Tom/McKenna, California Tamarack Foundation,/and the Dilexi Foundation. The San Fran-/cisco Conservation Corps, Sheedy Drayage,/Bode Gravel, Kaiser Sand and Gravel, and/Clementina Corporation provided in-kind/donations. A special thanks to Jack Russel unsigned
Description:
An underwater pipe organ. It is comprised of 25 open-ended PVC pipes sunk into the water below a three-tiered granite terrace. The pipes are cut to various lengths to produce different frequencies. Turbulence of water in the pipes activates harmonics for almost a fugue-like effect. Carved stone is arranged to create an atmosphere evocative of the ruins of a Greek amphitheater, creating a protected but open space. The pipes terminate in metal-capped funnels, evocative of the trumpet-shaped funnels for venting lower decks on a ship. These funnels and enclosed pipe ends are located in scattered locations on the granite tiers.
Subject:
Abstract
Architecture -- Boat -- Detail
Architecture -- Classical
Architecture -- Ruins
Object Type:
Outdoor Sculpture -- California -- San Francisco
Site-specific
Sculpture
Owner:
Administered by City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Arts Commission, 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 240, San Francisco, California 94102
Located Marina Jetty, Near the Golden Gate and Saint Francis Yacht Clubs, Marina Boulevard between Lyon & Fillmore Streets, San Francisco, California
Remarks:
The sculpture cost about $250,000 and was built by the Exploratorium Museum and dedicated to Frank Oppenheimer, 1912-1985, founder and director. The sculpture was designed by Gonzales and Peter Richards, assistant director of the museum. Partial funding for the sculpture was provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the San Francisco Conservation Corps. Headstone fragments from the Pioneer Cemetery (Laurel Heights) and old curbstones from the city were incorporated into the piece.
IAS files contain related articles from The San Francisco Examiner, Jan. 25, 1989, pg. A-1; Jan. 31, 1989, and The San Francisco Examiner's Image Magazine, Jan. 19, 1986, pg. 7. IAS files also contain related articles from the San Francisco Chronicle, Nov. 25, 1985, pg. 61; and Jan. 26, 1989.
References:
Save Outdoor Sculpture, California, San Francisco survey, 1992.
Illustration:
Image on file.
San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 26, 1989.
Note:
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.
Repository:
Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Control Number:
IAS CA000987
Copy/Holding information
Smithsonian AmericanArt Museum
Control Number
Inventory of American Sculpture
CA000987
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