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https://mallhistory.org/files/original/c51455f00a0346cec5f47037889fa80b.jpg
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https://mallhistory.org/files/original/a82ecf30ae1e6aa497539d4cfec1fa84.jpg
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Place
Important spaces on the mall (See the "Places" writeboard in basecamp.)
Location
The location of the interview.
The west side of the National Museum of American History.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Statues and Sculpture
Physical Description
Text describing the appearance of the place and its situation on the Mall.
The sculpture is 40 feet tall and weighs 35 tons. It contains 71 pieces connected by 1,200 bolts all faceing the same direction. Calder instructed that the sculpture be painted with a matte black, lead-based paint. In 2013, conservators repainted the piece with high-tech paint specifically designed for outdoor sculptures.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Gwenfritz
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Alexander Calder
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives. <a href="http://siris-sihistory.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=14F605S0U9301.1295&profile=sicall&source=~!sichronology&view=subscriptionsummary&uri=full=3100001~!9319~!1&ri=3&aspect=power&menu=search&ipp=20&spp=20&staffonly=&term=calder&index=.GW&uindex=&aspect=power&menu=search&ri=3">View original</a>.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
6/2/1969 (dedicated)
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
1950-1979
2000-present
Description
An account of the resource
Sculptor Alexander Calder designed "Gwenfritz" in 1965 after Washington philanthropist Gwendolyn Cafritz commissioned him to create a piece for the new Museum of History and Technology. Calder built the 40-foot tall metal stabile in France and shipped it to Washington in 6 crates. Smithsonian staff installed the work in 1969 on a reflecting pool facing 14th Street. In 1984, the Museum moved the sculpture and filled in the pool. In 2013, the Smithsonian began conserving "Gwenfritz," and in October 2014 returned it to the original location. During the restoration, staff repainted the sculpture and replaced all 1,200 bolts connecting its panels.
arts & culture
design & monuments