Bent Propeller

Coordinates: 40°42′47.1″N 74°0′43.9″W / 40.713083°N 74.012194°W / 40.713083; -74.012194
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Bent Propeller
Bent Propeller pictured in 1971
ArtistAlexander Calder
Completion date1970
MediumSculpture
Dimensions760 cm (25 ft)
ConditionSeverely damaged in the September 11 attacks in 2001 (partially intact)
LocationNew York City
Coordinates40°42′47.1″N 74°0′43.9″W / 40.713083°N 74.012194°W / 40.713083; -74.012194

Bent Propeller (also known as World Trade Center Stabile) was a red stainless steel sculpture by Alexander Calder.

Description

The main elements of the sculpture were three sheets of curved metal, linked together to form a static work resting under its own weight, making it what Calder called a "stabile", as opposed to his famous "mobile" sculptures. It was reminiscent of a ship's propeller. Like many of Calder's public sculptures, it was painted red. The large work, 25 feet (7.6 m) high, was first installed near the entrance to

Church Street
.

History

The sculpture was commissioned by the

World Trade Center in New York City
.

WTC 6
to WTC 7

The work was severely damaged in 2001 in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, crushed under thousands of tons of rubble when 7 World Trade Center collapsed. About 40 percent of the sculpture was recovered from the debris in the following months. With not enough of the original remaining for a restoration, the recovered elements were stored by the Calder Foundation. Today, a portion of the sculpture can be found at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

See also

References