What if this sculpture could speak? The Broken Obelisk stands here. It is a powerful testament to art’s ability to provoke thought. It also serves as a reminder of social justice.
This Broken Obelisk before you was designed by Barnett Newman between 1963 and 1967. The sculpture is crafted from three tons of Cor-Ten steel. This special steel acquires a rust-colored patina over time. It is the largest and best known of Newman’s six sculptures.
Originally, two copies were made between 1966 and 1967. One was displayed in front of the Seagram Building in New York City. The other stood outside the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington DC. It was part of an exhibit called Scale and Content. This exhibit also featured works by Tony Smith and Ronald Bladen.
In Washington, the Broken Obelisk stirred controversy. Some viewed it as a reference to a broken upside-down Washington Monument. This was a sensitive issue during a time of civil unrest. When the Corcoran director resigned in 1969, Newman had the sculpture removed.
A third improved copy was made in 1969. It became part of the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection in New York City. For a brief period, all three sculptures were together at the Lippincott, Inc. foundry.
One sculpture was acquired by John de Menil. He dedicated it to Martin Luther King Jr. It was installed at the Rothko Chapel in Houston in 1970. It sits surrounded by a reflecting pool.
Virginia Wright secured another copy. It was installed here in Red Square on the University of Washington campus in 1971.
A fourth copy was commissioned in 2003. It was completed between 2005 and 2006. It was displayed in front of the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin. Later, it was acquired by Storm King Art Center. In the summer of 2014, all four Broken Obelisk sculptures were on display in the United States.
Art critic Robert Hughes praised the Broken Obelisk. He called it perhaps the best American sculpture of its time. He saw it as Newman’s meditation on ancient Egypt. He noted the steel pyramid. From its apex, an inverted obelisk rises like a beam of light. Hughes believed Newman bypassed associations of death. Instead, he produced an image of transcendence.
Virginia Wright played a crucial role in bringing the Broken Obelisk to Seattle. She was one of the original members of the Seattle Arts Commission. She was also a major donor to the Seattle Art Museum. Her father gave her an endowment to purchase public artwork. The Broken Obelisk was the first piece she acquired.
Initially, Wright wanted to install the sculpture in front of the Seafirst Building. But the building chose another artwork. So the Broken Obelisk was gifted to the University of Washington.
In 1998, Wright discovered that the sculpture had been altered. The University had widened the joint between the obelisk and the pyramid base. This was to prevent leaning. Wright paid to have the work restored to its original dimensions.
The Broken Obelisk remains here in Red Square. It provides shade for students and inspiration for all. It stands as a testament to Virginia Wright’s vision. It also honors Barnett Newman’s artistic achievement. The Broken Obelisk continues to inspire reflection. It encourages dialogue about art and society.