A Restless Genius turns 75.. A Very Happy Birthday to Richard Howard Hunt!

Happy Birthday to a Cultural Icon of Chicago Richard Howard Hunt!
Born: September 12, 1935..
One of the most prolific of Chicago sculptors, Richard Hunt has completed about 100 commissioned public sculptures. More than any other artist in the United States..

Two days back, on Thursday, Sep 9, 2010, I had the opportunity to visit Richard Hunt's Studio. And what a wonderful experience! I was blown away by his polite, gracious, courteous demeanor. Not only is his work amazing, he himself is just too good, the Old School Charm, in the modern era! To add, he gave me carte blanche to take whatever photo I wished. What more could I have asked for..









Some work in his studio.. His works are like sculptural poems - visual equivalence of lyrical undulations. Very pleasing to the eyes. I asked about his influences and he gave many names Vladimir Tatlin, Naum Gabo, Oskar Schemmer [are few I remember]. In our conversation, one term stood out for me - "Russian Constructivism", which involves modernity, abstraction and minimalism..



I got the opportunity to see some of his early works. These included figure sculptures, which he created in the 1950s. Like this "Hero's Head" made in 1956, of welded steel. The African American influences are obvious in these. I have posted photos of some of his early figure sculptures in my FB AlbumClick Here..


The Richard Hunt Studio..

Some of his Public Commissions of Richard Hunt, that I've seen..



Eagle Columns..
By Richard Hunt..
1989..
Location: Jonquil Park. Chicago,
To commemorate two Chicagoans on the 1890s. Illinois Governor John Peter Altgerd
and poet Vachel Lindsay..
# For more.. click here..



Freeform..
By: Richard Hunt..
1993, Stainless steel, H 26 ft. x W 35 ft. x D 2 ft.
Location: Exterior facade of 160 N. LaSalle St
Location: State of Illinois Building..
The sculpture derives its title from one of Richard Hunt’s central ideas about the nature of abstract art—which is that it is freely formed..
# For more.. click here..



Slabs of the Sunburnt West..
By Richard Hunt
1975 / welded bronze
30 foot X 30 foot, with protruding form 3 to 9 foot high.
Location: University of Illinois Chicago campus..
801 S Morgan..
Commissioned by the B.F.Ferguson Monument Fund..
as a memorial to Illinois poet and historian Carl Sandburg [[1878-1967]



Illinois River Landscape..
By Richard Hunt..
1985
Commissioned by the Illinois Percentage For Arts Program,
Capital Development Board,
Location: James R. Thompson Center..
# For more.. click here..



Large Planar Hybrid..
By: Richard Hunt
i973-74..
Materials: welded cor-ten steel..
Location: Nathan Manilow Scullpture Park..
Purchased by the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park, GSU Foundation Collection....
# For more.. click here..



Outgrown Pyramid II ..
By: Richard Hunt
1973
Materials: cor-ten steel
Location: Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park..
Gift of Morris Lipschultz ..
Its companion piece, Large Planar Hybrid is part of the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park collection..
The marker reads..



Why..
By: Richard Hunt
Completed: 1974
Location: University of Chicago..
"Why," an abstract bronze sculpture by Richard Hunt, was erected in 1974 in memory of Samuel H. Nerlove, University of Chicago professor of economics.
# For more.. click here..



We Will..
By - Richard Hunt
2005..
# For more.. click here..

Check out my Facebook Album..
# Contemporary Sculptors of Chicago: Richard Howard Hunt ..