Creation Date

Dedication date: October 27, 1992

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Description

Black and white photograph of a multi-figure outdoor sculpture showing several stylized human figures climbing and helping one another up a tiered stone base in front of a brick school building. The photograph shows “The Ascent,” a 1992 outdoor sculpture by Thomas K. Kennedy made of steel figures mounted on a granite base, located at Portland High School in Portland, Maine. The image centers on a rough, tiered granite block structure with several smooth, metal human figures posed in active climbing positions. One figure at the bottom appears to be stepping up while reaching an arm toward another figure higher on the stone, who in turn reaches up toward additional figures at the top. The figures are simplified and segmented, emphasizing their limbs and the sense of motion as they pull and support one another. Behind the sculpture is the school’s brick facade with windows and metal fencing, indicating an urban campus setting. The sculpture was commissioned in conjunction with the renovation of Portland High School in 1991, and this photograph was reproduced on a postcard invitation for the work’s dedication on October 27, 1992. 1992. Unidentified photographer. (NA4800.)

Save Outdoor Sculpture! (SOS!) (1990-1995) was a nationwide survey that ran from 1990-1995 documenting America’s outdoor sculpture. Established in 1990, SOS! helped educate local communities about America’s endangered sculptural heritage. The Maine Arts Commission was one of 106 organizations to participate in this survey.

Topic

Sculpture

Collection

MF161

Series Number

NA4800

Identifier

p16942

Rights and Access Note

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for non-commercial uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For more information, contact Special Collections.

Existence and Location of Originals

Located at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress: AFC 2012/047 https://lccn.loc.gov/2013655211.

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Keywords

Save Outdoor Sculpture

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Rights Statement

In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted