The Written Word (1972)
Tom Van Sant
DESCRIPTION: 3-component poured-in-place cement high relief or alto-relievo installation consisting of:
Van Sant's mammoth relief installation at the Inglewood Library depicts written expressions and symbols throughout history and the world, including those from Egyptian hieroglyphics, Polynesian counting, European cave paintings, and mathematical equations. His high relief or alto-relievo style is three-dimensional. The Lecture Hall component's signature shows Van Sant was assisted by artist/sculptor Tony Sheets [see The Evolution of Printing (1989), The Evolution of Los Angeles (1989-90), Gift of the Valley (2017)].
This sculpture is one of the most high-profile works of Van Sant's career, illusrating his unique poured-in-place cement technique requiring reversed molds. The central 64-foot high component is the sculptural focal point of Inglewood's Public Library, and together the three components are considered one of the largest poured-in-place cement relief sculptural installatons in the world.
- approx. 3,000 square foot (64-foot high by 46-foot wide) relief poured-in-place cement sculpture, mounted on the façade of an exterior curved stairwell column
- 8-foot high by 14-foot wide poured-in-place cement relief (ground-level elevator entrance to library)
- 14-foot high by 31-foot wide poured-in-place cement relief (exterior south façade of the Gladys Waddingham Lecture Hall)
Van Sant's mammoth relief installation at the Inglewood Library depicts written expressions and symbols throughout history and the world, including those from Egyptian hieroglyphics, Polynesian counting, European cave paintings, and mathematical equations. His high relief or alto-relievo style is three-dimensional. The Lecture Hall component's signature shows Van Sant was assisted by artist/sculptor Tony Sheets [see The Evolution of Printing (1989), The Evolution of Los Angeles (1989-90), Gift of the Valley (2017)].
This sculpture is one of the most high-profile works of Van Sant's career, illusrating his unique poured-in-place cement technique requiring reversed molds. The central 64-foot high component is the sculptural focal point of Inglewood's Public Library, and together the three components are considered one of the largest poured-in-place cement relief sculptural installatons in the world.
LOCATION: exterior façade of Inglewood Public Library, 101 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, California, USA
CITY OF INGLEWOOD'S DESCRIPTION OF VAN SANT'S FIVE LEVELS OF THE WRITTEN WORD (FROM IDEAS OF A GOD TO THE PHYSICS OF SPACE TRAVEL), CORRESPONDING TO EACH LIBRARY BUILDING LEVEL :
DETAIL:
WALL SECTION AT GROUND LEVEL ELEVATOR ENTRANCE AND SIGNATURE DETAIL:
WALL SECTIONS ON SOUTH FAÇADE OF WADDINGHAM LECTURE HALL AND SIGNATURE DETAIL:
