“Did you know that the Osa Mayor Sculpture is part of a grand artistic endeavor from the 1968 Olympics?” It is one of three guest sculptures created for the Cultural Olympiad. The Osa Mayor is a lasting reminder of the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.
Mathias Goeritz conceived this sculpture. He also organized the Route of Friendship. Goeritz created a powerful artistic statement near the Palacio de los Deportes. The Osa Mayor Sculpture, also known as Ursa Major or Big Dipper, is a constellation made of simple polyhedral concrete columns.
Imagine those athletes and spectators arriving in 1968. They were greeted by this artwork. The Osa Mayor was part of a city-wide celebration of art and culture. It stood as a geometric reminder of the Olympic spirit.
In antiquity, the Great Bear constellation was listed by Ptolemy. He drew on the knowledge of Greek, Egyptian, Babylonian, and Assyrian astronomers. It is the third largest of the 88 modern constellations. You can see it year-round from most of the northern hemisphere.
The Osa Mayor sculpture faced neglect over the decades. But it was restored in 2013. Now, it is in good shape. The sculpture has simple polyhedral concrete columns. Six are yellow. One is Mexican pink. The columns reach a maximum height of 15 meters.
Goeritz aimed for harmony with the Palacio de los Deportes. He saw it as a geometric masterpiece. The mini-constellation they form needs imagination. It is often called the Big Dipper. The Osa Mayor is usually visited by people going to events in the Palacio. The real Big Dipper does not get many visitors either.
The Ruta de la Amistad is a sculpture corridor in Mexico City. It stretches along the Anillo Periférico highway. It was inaugurated in 1968 for the Summer Olympics. The route spans 17 kilometers. It features nineteen sculptures by artists from seventeen countries.
The Osa Mayor stands apart from the main route. Other guest sculptures include Sol Rojo by Alexander Calder. It is at the Estadio Azteca. Hombre Corriendo by Germán Cueto is in the Olympic Stadium.
The Ruta de la Amistad suffered neglect and vandalism after the Olympics. Some sculptures were moved due to urban growth. The Patronato Ruta de la Amistad was established in 1994. It helps maintain and restore the sculptures. The Osa Mayor sculpture embodies the artistic spirit of the 1968 Olympics. It connects us to the stars and Mexico City’s vibrant cultural history.