THE AWAKENING STATUE

This Sculpture Statue showed up overnight in the Haines Point during the early 80’s. I remember because I am a Washingtonian. During the 70’s and 80’s we used to meet up at the one of the most popular parks and hang out all day and night. Watching the sun come up on this Aluminum Statue was breathtaking!

I often wondered why the artist who I now know as “J Stewart Jr.” allowed the District of Columbia to place this 17 foot 3 D statue in the park without having it protected from the public. It never seemed as though it belonged there. I never saw its function as, Utilitarian, and yet there it was at the worlds disposal. I cannot tell the things that I have witnessed people; doing on and near this work of Art. To me, it always fit in the category of one’s personal Belief in the Religious and Spiritual Function, as well as, To Enjoy: Entertainment and Aesthetic Functions.

This Sculpture is comprised of both Gestural and Contour lines in that Shape and Form the dramatic facial expressions as well as indicating movement as well as acting as a silhouette form that creates a definitive illusion of a man actually coming out of the ground, aggressively!

This deliberate form demonstrates a 3 D form that is positive offering implied Geometrical Shapes that help create Shape and Textural Contrast. The “AWAKENING’ Statue was created in 5 separate pieces. The Giant size figure was strategically buried to show an obvious struggle to arise from the ground where it is bound. J. Seward Johnson, Jr. created the statue during the 1980’s. I t’s intended purpose was aborted and sold for $750.000 and moved in 1987 to the National Harbor were it was buried again in Sand this time instead of dirt. I look forward to the day that it is placed in a more protected Environment to preserve its shape. Even though it is made of aluminum metal.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/29/arts/design/29awak.html?_r=0P

http://www.nationalharbor.com/art-at-national-harbor/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Awakening_(sculpture) Winifred Beasley Art 1000 Art Institute of Pittsburgh