Getting Head in Clinton Hill
We’ve noticed this sculpture on the Pratt campus a million times walking down Hall Street but never took the time to find out more about it. Turns out it’s the work of the reknowned portrait sculptor and Yale prof Philip Grausman. Here’s what the plaque says about the piece (while spelling the artist’s first name…
We’ve noticed this sculpture on the Pratt campus a million times walking down Hall Street but never took the time to find out more about it. Turns out it’s the work of the reknowned portrait sculptor and Yale prof Philip Grausman. Here’s what the plaque says about the piece (while spelling the artist’s first name wrong!):
In a [sic] effort to universalize and idealize the female head, Grausman has chosen a technique of skillfully modeling these overscale heads with an impersonality that reaches back to the ideals of Greek sculpture. (However they all start with actual models)[sic] Becuase of scale, head becomes body, the pure white of the fiberglass has the glow of pure marble. They command, they invite, they have a lively presence.
Do readers have any other favorites in the Pratt sculpture garden?
Back when I was attending Pratt we didn’t have a sculpture garden.
They could barely keep the building in repair, let alone toss money at dumb looking modern sculpture. I even suspect that the maintenance man for the Pratt Steam generators was secretly using all the Pratt cats to run little treadmills to supplement the power for the campus.
FINALLY! Can we talk? Why do they ALL look like sex toys?? have you seen those big iron ones near willoughby???
I’ve always assumed this head represented a man. This sculpture and the related one that isn’t in the photo are surprisingly interesting to see on a daily basis. They reflect what’s going on in nature well: covered in wet leaves, surrounded by white snow, bright white in the sun, smeared with mud, etc. Every plaque on the Pratt campus seems to have a typo.
Me no likie….
There used to be a huge sofa made of old tires that my daughter called The Big Uncomfy Couch, after an old kids’ tv show (Big Comfy Couch). But I don’t think it’s there anymore.
I am a grad of Pratt, and have fond memories of the sculpture garden, or ‘Pratt Beach’ as we called it. There is a coolio sculpture near the ARC by Serra that is striking. Also, I have always considered the decapitated original entrance to the library that was moved to the ARC a sculptural fave…
Yeah, well, moving on . . . I’ve always loved that big shovel circle on the side of one of the brick buildings.
uhhhh it’s an undeniable dick-“head”
Yes, but a calm one…