The Awakening, (sculpture).

The Awakening, (sculpture).

Johnson, J. Seward, Jr., 1930-2020, sculptor.

Johnson Atelier, founder.

The Awakening, (sculpture).

Installed May 27-29, 1980. Relocated 2008.

Digital Reference:

5 pieces. Overall: approx. L. 70 ft. x H. 17 ft.

Figure of a giant emerging from beneath the earth, his massive face, proper right arm and hand, and proper left foot and knee popping up out of the ground. His mouth is open as if screaming and his face is adorned with a beard, moustache, and long curly hair.

Fantasy -- Monster

Figure male -- Fragment -- Face

Figure male -- Fragment -- Arm

Figure male -- Fragment -- Leg

Outdoor Sculpture -- Maryland -- Prince George's County

National Harbor, Prince George's County, Maryland

Formerly on loan to United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington, District of Columbia June 1980-Feb. 2008.

Formerly located East Potomac Park, Hains Point, Washington, District of Columbia June 1980-Feb. 2008.

Acquired from Sculpture Foundation, Santa Monica, California 2007.

The sculpture was cast in five parts over a two year period. It was funded with a National Endowment for the Arts, Art in Public Places grant of $50,000 given in 1980 to the International Sculpture Center, Inc. The sculpture was installed at East Potomac Park during the 1980 International Sculpture Conference, and remained at East Potomac Park on an open-ended loan to the National Park Service until 2007. IAS images show the sculpture installed at Hains Point in East Potomac Park. IAS files contain an article from the Washington Post, Sept. 1, 1989, that describes the controversy over plans for a National Peace Garden approved by Congress in 1987 to be placed on the site where the sculpture was installed at East Potomac Park. IAS files also contain an article from the Washington Post, Aug. 20, 1991, that describes an accident in which a car ran into the giant's head at East Potomac Park. This car accident was not the first, a similar car accident occurred five years earlier and cracked the figure's hand. Another Washington Post article dated Nov. 7, 1991 includes photos taken as the sculpture was being removed for repair following the car accident. In 2007 the sculpture was sold for $740,000 to the developers of National Harbor in Prince George's County, Maryland. In February 2008, the sculpture was removed from East Potomac Park and installed at its new home in National Harbor, on a beach along the Potomac River. IAS files contain an article from The New York Times, Dec. 28, 2007, describing the the sale and relocation, and an article from the Washington Post, Feb. 21, 2008, pg. B2, describing the relocation of the sculpture to its new home in the National Harbor. The Washington Post, Feb, 21, 2008, pg. 1 includes photos of the sculpture being installed in the National Harbor.

National Park Service, 1985.

Heritage Preservation SOS! survey of NEA Art in Public Places funded sculpture, 2002.

Washington Post, Feb. 21, 2008, pg. B2.

Washington Post, Sept. 1, 1989, pg. B2.

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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