Pillar of Fire (sculpture)

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Coordinates: 38°54′51″N 77°01′56″W / 38.914188°N 77.032141°W / 38.914188; -77.032141
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Pillar of Fire
ArtistWilliam Cochran
Year2013 (2013)
Typeglass, concrete
Dimensions4.9 m (16 ft)
Location14th and S Streets NW Washington, D.C., U.S.
Coordinates38°54′51″N 77°01′56″W / 38.914188°N 77.032141°W / 38.914188; -77.032141

Pillar of Fire is an illuminated glass sculpture in

pillar of fire that led Israelites in their crossing of the Red Sea and through the desert after they fled Egypt
.

Design

Pillar of Fire is a 16 feet (4.9 m) high illuminated glass sculpture in the shape of a slender column which represents the pillar of fire that guided the Israelites at night.

rainbow flag, a symbol of LGBT pride.[1][2] A plaque on the sculpture's concrete base says the artwork is dedicated to "Whitman-Walker Clinic and the many health care workers who served the LGBT community in this building from 1987 to 2008, the early years of the pandemic."[4]

Artists

The sculpture was designed by artist William Cochran of Frederick, Maryland, who specializes in large-scale public art installations.[2][3] On choosing the design of the memorial, Cochran said "The title comes from this notion that when we get scared, as humans, we tend to bring out these old, dark myths of the Old Testament God that punishes people for sin and things that don’t make any sense. It’s darkness...And a place like Whitman-Walker has to work uphill against that to bring dignity and compassion to people caught up in a terrible situation...The 'pillar of fire' refers to the health care workers at Whitman-Walker, who did, in a moment of history, something so incredible that it can be an example for all of us, for the ages."[3]

Lighting consultant John Coventry of Chevy Chase, Maryland, designed and donated the programmable lighting system. Acclaim Lighting of Los Angeles provided additional materials. Engineering services were provided by New York firm Eckersley O’Callaghan, which specializes in structural glass, and the assembly and installation was completed by Service Glass Industries of Frederick.[2][5]

History

Whitman-Walker Health's 25th anniversary of holding a vigil on World AIDS Day in 2013. Attendees are gathered at the Pillar of Fire sculpture.

In 2008,

Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.[1][2] The Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) suggested a plaque be placed on the building noting the history of the clinic. Instead the company wanted a more prominent way of honoring the healthcare workers and clinic's role in assisting people living with HIV/AIDS during the height of the AIDS epidemic. James Nozar, a vice president of JBG, said "We thought the work of the clinic during the peak of the AIDS epidemic was worthy of a better memorial than just a plaque."[1] In 2012, JBG announced the memorial would be installed on the corner of 14th and S Streets in front of the renovated building which was incorporated into a 125-unit apartment complex called The District.[1][6] The plan was approved by the HPRB, Office of Planning and Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC). Ramon Estrada, a member of the ANC, noted the area was designated an arts overlay district and the installation of public art was encouraged.[1] The total cost of the project was $80,000.[7]

Pillar of Fire was dedicated on November 4, 2013, with Cochran, representatives from JBG and Whitman-Walker, and Councilmember Jim Graham in attendance. Graham, executive director of Whitman-Walker from 1984 to 2009, stated: "This is a celebration of the human spirit...Because the human spirit that worked in this building, that worked with individuals who, very often, were very poor and facing what was then thought to be a terminal illness – and was, in fact a terminal illness – who had no resources, no support system, very little in the way of friends and supporters, often abandoned by their family, abandoned by their employers. They came to this building as a place of hope and response."[3] The following month Mayor Vincent Gray and around 75 people held a candlelight vigil at the new memorial on World AIDS Day.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^
    The Northwest Current. issuu
    . Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e Greer, Erin (December 11, 2014). "DC is alight with the Pillar of Fire". American City and County. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d Riley, John (November 7, 2013). "Sculpture Dedicated in Memory of Whitman-Walker Clinic". Metro Weekly. Archived from the original on February 12, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Chibbaro Jr., Lou (December 2, 2013). "'I want to really remember what happened'". Washington Blade. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  5. ^ "Pillar of Fire, Washington". William Cochran. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  6. ^ Blocher, Matthew (November 4, 2013). "JBG Dedicated 'Pillar of Fire' in Honor of the Whitman Walker Clinic". JBG Smith. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  7. ^ "Pillar of FIre". CODAworx. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.

External links

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