Continuum (sculpture)

{{Infobox artwork

| image_file = Smithsonian Air and Space.jpg

| image_size = 200px

| title = Continuum

| caption = Sculpture in 2005

| alt =

| other_language_1 =

| other_title_1 =

| other_language_2 =

| other_title_2 =

| artist = Charles O. Perry

| year = {{Start date|1976}}

| type = Bronze

| height_metric =

| width_metric =

| length_metric =

| height_imperial = 14

| width_imperial =

| length_imperial =

| metric_unit = m

| imperial_unit = ft

| city = Washington, D.C., United States

| museum = National Air and Space Museum

| coordinates = {{coord|38|53|15.93|N|77|1|11.6|W|region:US}}

| owner = Smithsonian Institution

}}

Continuum is a public artwork by American sculptor Charles O. Perry located in front of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, United States.{{cite web | author=Smithsonian | year=1993 | title=Continuum, (sculpture). | work=Save Outdoor Sculpture | publisher=Smithsonian | url=http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!6509~!0#focus | access-date= 2 January 2010}}

Description

The sculpture is a large swirling abstract that consists of 8 bronze pieces painted black and placed on a pole.

Information

According to the artist the piece "began as an exploration of the Möbius strip, a product of pure mathematics formed by joining two ends of a strip of paper after giving one end a 180-degree twist, thus creating only one edge. The center of the bronze sculpture symbolizes a black hole, while the edge shows the flow of matter through the center from positive to negative space and back again in a continuum."{{cite web | author=Charles O. Perry | title=Biography | publisher=Charles Perry | url=http://www.charlesperry.com/Bio.html | access-date= 2 January 2010}}

A similar sculpture by Perry, Continuum II, is installed in Marina Square in Singapore and dates to 1986.{{cite web | title=Continuum II |publisher=Singapore Public Art | url=http://www.publicart.sg/?q=Charles-O-Perry_Continuum-II | access-date=2 January 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619070004/http://www.publicart.sg/?q=Charles-O-Perry_Continuum-II | archive-date=19 June 2010 | url-status=dead }}

File:Continuum from below.JPG|from below

File:Continuum from front (S).JPG|from the front (S)

File:Continuum from back (N) 05.JPG|from the side (SW)

File:Continuum from NW.JPG|from the side (NW)

File:Continuum from back (N).JPG|from the back (N)

File:Continuum Conservation.jpg|undergoing conservation in 2010

Condition

In July 2010 the piece underwent restoration to remove a green patina that formed on the sculpture. Perry's vision was for the piece to remain black. The piece was removed from its location to the west end of the building where it underwent its conservation by a contractor. The granite base that holds the 7,000 pound sculpture was also repaired.{{cite web | year=2010 | title=Continuum Sculpture Undergoes Restoration | work=AROUND NASM | publisher=National Air and Space Museum | url=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs063/1101752115970/archive/1103512483603.html | access-date= 3 January 2010}}

References

External links

[http://dcmemorials.com/index_indiv0000494.htm Continuum on dcMemorials]
[http://mathtourist.blogspot.com/2010/05/mobius-continuum.html The Mathematical Tourist on Continuum]
[http://www.maa.org/mathland/mathtrek_9_4_00.html Möbius at Fermilab]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20110429204301/http://www.si.edu/Exhibitions/Details/Outdoor-Sculptures-Air-and-Space-Museum-173 Outdoor Sculptures: Air and Space Museum]

Category:Mathematical artworks

Category:1976 sculptures

Category:Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Category:Sculptures in the Smithsonian Institution

Category:Abstract sculptures in Washington, D.C.

Category:Bronze sculptures in Washington, D.C.

Category:Outdoor sculptures in Washington, D.C.

Category:Southwest Federal Center