Family Circle is a public artwork by the American artist Herbert House, located at the intersection of 18th and Harvard Streets NW in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C., United States. Family Circle was dedicated in 1991. It was surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey in 1994.[1][2]

Family Circle
Family Circle in 2023
ArtistHerbert House
Year1991 (1991)
TypeSteel
Dimensions152.4 cm × 91.44 cm × 60.96 cm (60.0 in × 36.00 in × 24.00 in)
LocationWashington, D.C.
Coordinates38°55′37.33″N 77°2′28.88″W / 38.9270361°N 77.0413556°W / 38.9270361; -77.0413556
OwnerDC Artworks

Description

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Four nude figures of a male, female and two children dance in a circle. The figures are highly polished steel and have no facial features, feet or hands.[1] House created the sculpture out of car bumpers that he cut and welded.[3] The dancing figures are on top of a red circular tilted platform.[1]

Herbert House

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Herbert House grew up in Washington, D.C.[2] He graduated from Illinois State University and has been credited with creating over 500 works. House resides in Chicago, Illinois. His work is seen in the collections of Illinois State and numerous private collections.[4]

Condition

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This sculpture was surveyed in 1994 for its condition, and it was described as "well maintained."[1] In 2017, the sculpture was vandalized when two of the figures were torn off the platform.[5] In 2018, the city hired House to repair the piece, and it went back on display.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d SOS! (1993). "Family Circle (sculpture)". Save Outdoor Sculpture. Smithsonian. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  2. ^ a b Kelly, John (2023-04-10). "Who made the shiny car-bumper sculpture in an Adams Morgan park?". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  3. ^ a b "Perspective | Shiny figures are dancing once again in an Adams Morgan park". Washington Post. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Gallery of Artwork". Art on Campus. Illinois State University. 2004. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  5. ^ "Fantastic Sculpture at 18th and Harvard Severely Damaged Overnight". PoPville. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
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