“Entrenched at Hains Point” someone once wrote about a remarkable sculpture. That is how many felt about The Awakening. This massive sculpture captures the raw struggle of a giant trying to break free from the earth.
The Awakening, conceived in 1980 by J. Seward Johnson Jr., became a landmark. It was initially part of Washington D.C.’s Sculpture Conference. Imagine a 72-foot statue of a giant embedded in the ground. Only parts of his body are visible.
The statue features five separate aluminum pieces. These are strategically buried to create a distressed effect. One can see the left hand and right foot barely protruding. The bent left leg and knee jut into the air. The right arm and hand reach out dramatically.
The bearded face is caught in a perpetual scream. It shows the giant’s intense effort to emerge. This sculpture was first installed at Hains Point in East Potomac Park.
In 1987, Congress designated Hains Point as the site for a National Peace Garden. This decision led to the sculpture’s eventual sale by The Sculpture Foundation. Real estate developer Milton Peterson bought The Awakening for over $700,000 in 2007. He moved it to his new National Harbor development in Maryland.
Crews removed The Awakening from Hains Point in February 2008. It was then installed on a specially built beach along the Potomac River.
Johnson also created a copy of The Awakening. It was unveiled in Chesterfield, Missouri, in 2009. There is also a fiberglass copy called “Il Risveglio”. It has been exhibited in Italy.
The Awakening even made a cameo in the 1995 film “The Net”. It has become a popular spot for tourists. People often take pictures sitting in the giant’s palm or sliding down his shin. The Awakening offers a unique, awe-inspiring experience. It vividly captures a moment of intense struggle and liberation.