Johnny Carson, (sculpture).

Johnny Carson, (sculpture).

Shelton, Ernest, 1932- , sculptor.

American Fine Arts Foundry, founder.

Johnny Carson, (sculpture).

1991. Copyrighted 1991. Dedicated May 22, 1992.

Digital Reference:

Bronze with patina.

Approx. 72 x 45 1/2 x 11 in.

(On rear bottom of proper right pant leg:) Shelton (Founder's mark) 91 signed Founder's mark appears.

Television personality Johnny Carson stands with proper right arm held high to his proper right side, the palm of his hand facing up, and proper left arm akimbo with his hand in his pocket under his jacket sleeve. His proper right knee is bent and his foot points to the proper right, in the direction of his upturned right palm. The proper left leg is rigid with foot pointed straight ahead. Carson wears dress shoes, a shirt, a striped tie and suit. The shoes and suit are covered in swirly incised patterns. The sculpture has a shiny brown patina. The sculpture is mounted directly on a plaza.

Portrait male -- Carson, Johnny -- Full length

Performing Arts -- Theater -- Performer

Performing Arts -- Other -- Comedian

Outdoor Sculpture -- California -- North Hollywood

Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Academy Ventures, 5200 Lankersheim Boulevard, Hall of Fame Plaza, North Hollywood, California 91601

The sculpture commemorates Johnny Carson's induction into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in 1987. Carson was host of NBC-TV's "Tonight Show" for 30 years. The sculpture is one of three works by the artist commissioned for $140,000 by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Hall of Fame Plaza, part of the Academy's new headquarters. Funding for the sculpture was provided by one-half of one percent of Phase I of the Academy construction budget combined with one percent of construction costs for the adjacent Days Inn. The sculpture was dedicated on May 22, 1992, the day Johnny Carson taped his last show.

Jan Scott was the consulting architect for the project. The sculpture is cleaned every three months. IAS files contain a related article from the Los Angeles Times, May 7, 1993, Sec. F, Art; an Academy Hall of Fame Inductees Report, March 30, 1989; related materials from the Community Redevelopment Agency, City of Los Angeles; and an Academy of Television Arts and Sciences News Release, May 13, 1992, announcing the dedication ceremony.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, California survey, 1994.

Los Angeles Times, May 7, 1993, Sec. F, Art.

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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