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DESCRIPTION: 8-foot high bronze statue/sculpture, mounted on 4-foot concrete pedestal
This sculpture by Icelandic artist and sculptor Nina Saemundsson (born Jónína Sæmundsdóttir) was dedicated on April 9, 1935 at MacArthur Park and depicts Prometheus, the Greek mythological Titan god of fire, raising a torch to the world (globe) that he holds in his left hand. The sculpture's creation was sponsored by the Los Angeles City Parks' Public Works of Art Project, as well as by the Works Projects Administration Federal Art Project.
The sculpture was damaged at an unknown time by the removal of the globe from the sculpture's outstretched left hand, and damage to the surface was also significant. The plaque accompanying this early sculpture by Saemundsson mis-spells the title as simply "Promethus"[sic].
A 2021 restoration of MacArthur Park included the restoration of the bronze surface and the painting the 4-foot concrete pedestal. The original globe from Prometheus' hand, however, remains missing.
A November 2024 vandalism by a local artist inserted a sculpture of a large methamphetamine pipe onto the long-empty open hand, accompanied by a pseudo-plaque at its base that asserted Prometheus' different goal of facilitating drug use for "bringing fire to Earth."
This sculpture by Icelandic artist and sculptor Nina Saemundsson (born Jónína Sæmundsdóttir) was dedicated on April 9, 1935 at MacArthur Park and depicts Prometheus, the Greek mythological Titan god of fire, raising a torch to the world (globe) that he holds in his left hand. The sculpture's creation was sponsored by the Los Angeles City Parks' Public Works of Art Project, as well as by the Works Projects Administration Federal Art Project.
The sculpture was damaged at an unknown time by the removal of the globe from the sculpture's outstretched left hand, and damage to the surface was also significant. The plaque accompanying this early sculpture by Saemundsson mis-spells the title as simply "Promethus"[sic].
A 2021 restoration of MacArthur Park included the restoration of the bronze surface and the painting the 4-foot concrete pedestal. The original globe from Prometheus' hand, however, remains missing.
A November 2024 vandalism by a local artist inserted a sculpture of a large methamphetamine pipe onto the long-empty open hand, accompanied by a pseudo-plaque at its base that asserted Prometheus' different goal of facilitating drug use for "bringing fire to Earth."
LOCATION: MacArthur Park, southwest corner of Wilshire Blvd. and Alvarado Street, MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, California, USA
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