Two Lines Oblique Down, Variation III

39°49′31.21″N 86°11′7.19″W / 39.8253361°N 86.1853306°W / 39.8253361; -86.1853306 (Two Lines Oblique Down, Variation III by George Rickey (1970))OwnerIndianapolis Museum of Art

Two Lines Oblique Down, Variation III is a kinetic artwork by American artist George Rickey and located at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, near downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The sculpture was made in 1970, and it is constructed from stainless steel.^[1]

Description

The pendulum-inspired design of Two Lines Oblique Down, Variation III is typical of Rickey’s geometric, kinetic artwork.^[2] Measuring by the greatest extension of the sculpture's "arms," its size is 31' x 42' x 8'.^[3] It is constructed from at least five primary, stainless steel components which have been welded and bolted together to form linear shapes. The overall form is a Y-shaped stationary piece with two wind-powered moving pieces.

The stationary piece is square at the base and tapers up to the split of the Y. The ends of the Y are equipped with rotating joints by which the smaller moving pieces are attached to the sculpture. Each moving piece is a triangular, tapering beam that is connected at a point approximately one fourth of its length away from the wider end of the beam. Small greased bearings keep the sculpture moving freely.

Rickey relies on random wind currents to introduce movement into his sculptures, similarly to other kinetic artists such as Alexander Calder.^[4] In contrast to the biomorphic forms of Calder's mobiles, however, Rickey's linear, oscillating forms trace paths in space that reject organic motifs in favor of geometry.^[5] The large scale of Two Lines combined with the gracefulness of the sculpture's movements emphasize the relationship between space, movement, and time.^[4]

Historical information

George Rickey made several editions of this sculpture during the years 1969 and 1970, and they can be found at various institutions across the United States.^[6]

Location History

Two Lines Oblique Down, Variation III was first displayed on the IMA's main terrace. A more protected arrangement for the artwork was desired, however, and it was moved to accommodate for extra surrounding space. The sculpture is positioned prominently next to the Efroymson Pavilion, the main entrance of the IMA,^[7] and encircled by an area of decorative landscaping.

Acquisition

The Indianapolis edition of Two Lines was accessioned by the Indianapolis Museum of Art in 1975 through The Orville A. and Elma D. Wilkinson Fund.^[3]

Artist

References

^ Save Outdoor Sculpture! (n.d.). "Two Lines Oblique Down, Variation III (sculpture)". SIRIS. Smithsonian. Retrieved 30 Jan 2011.
^ Wichita State University Sculpture Tour (2009). "Two Lines Oblique Down, Variation III". Wichita State University. Retrieved 31 Jan 2011.
^ ^a ^b "Two Lines Oblique Down, Variation III", Explore Art: IMA Collections. Retrieved 28 Jan 2011.
^ ^a ^b Indianapolis Museum of Art Collections Handbook. Indianapolis: Indianapolis Museum of Art, 1988. 126.
^ Day, Holliday T. Crossroads of American Sculpture. Indianapolis: Indianapolis Museum of Art, 2000. 70.
^ Save Outdoor Sculpture! (n.d.). "Search Collections: Two Lines Oblique". SIRIS. Smithsonian. Retrieved 31 Jan 2011.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Greiff, Glory-June (2005). Remembrance, Faith & Fancy: Outdoor Public Sculpture in Indiana. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press. p. 182. ISBN 0-87195-180-0.

Indianapolis Museum of Art (Newfields)

Significant
artworks at the
Indianapolis
Museum of Art

African art	Face mask Senufo female ancestor figure Magbo helmet mask for Oro society Palace plaque depicting warrior Guardian figure Healing of Abiku Children
American painting and sculpture to 1945	Afternoon Tea Cliff Rock - Appledore Dorothy Hotel Lobby Hurricane Jimson Weed Morning at Grand Manan Preparing for the Matinee Red Kimono on the Roof Reflections Sunlight The Boat Builders The Flight of Europa The Love Song The Rainbow Tidying Up U.S.A. Untitled (The Birth)
Asian art	Bowl with two violet spots Cong-shaped vase Covered jar with carp design Fine Wind, Clear Morning Ksitigarbha bodhisattva Ritual wine server Shigaraki ware storage jar Vase with carved peony scrolls Vase with nine peach design
Contemporary art	Acton Courre Merlan Egyptian Barnyard LOVE painting LOVE (sculpture) The Quintet of the Silent They Waz Nice White Folks While They Lasted (Sez One Gal to Another) Untitled Landfield Untitled Judd Untitled Irwin
Decorative arts	Angel of the Resurrection Coffee service High chest of drawers Portland Vase Side chair
European painting and sculpture to 1945	Aristotle Battle Between Carnival and Lent Breton Women at a Wall Broek in Waterland Charing Cross Bridge Crucifix Crucifixion Enclosed Field with Peasant Entry of Christ into Jerusalem Entry of Christ into Jerusalem House in Provence Landscape near Arles Ma Jolie Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist and St. Mary Magdalene Man and Woman Peasant with a Wheelbarrow Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well Roman Capriccio: The Pantheon and Other Monuments Saint Luke Self-Portrait Rembrandt Still Life with a Chinese Porcelain Jar Still Life with Profile of Laval The Banks of the Oise near Pontoise The Boy The Channel of Gravelines, Petit Fort Philippe The Country Dance The Crucifixion Cranach The Fifth Plague of Egypt The Flageolet Player on the Cliff The Flight into Egypt The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist The House of the Deaf Woman and the Belfry at Eragny The Negress The Seamstress The Triumphant Entry of Constantine into Rome The Two Sisters The Valkhof at Nijmegen Triptych of the Annunciation Vorhor, the Green Wave
Art of the Americas	Haida ceremonial dance rattle
Oceanic art	Helmet mask (Tatanua)
Prints, drawings, and photographs	Blasting St. Vincent's Rock, Clifton Boreas and Oreithyia Galinthias Outwits Eileithyia by Announcing the Birth of Heracles Mother (Mutter) Moulin Rouge: La Goulue The Holy Family with the Dragonfly Young Woman in Blue
Textile and fashion arts	Moroccan wall hanging Chinese Souls #2 Eli Lilly Family Quilt Evening dress Woman's apron Sumbanese woman's ceremonial skirt

Outdoor
artworks
by location

Museum grounds	Above and Below Five Brushstrokes La Hermana del Hombre Bóveda Memories of Prague Mother and Child Numbers 1-0 Snowplow Stumbling Man Sutphin Fountain Two Figures Two Lines Oblique Down, Variation III
Oldfields	Copy of Diana of Versailles Diana with Dog Female and Male Herm Fountain Four Seasons Landon-Era Birdbath Mother and Child (Gordine) Nymph and Fawn Sundial, Boy With Spider The Three Graces Pair of Urns
100 Acres	Bench Around the Lake Eden II Free Basket Funky Bones Indianapolis Island Park of the Laments Stratum Pier Team Building (Align)
Artworks on loan	East Gate/West Gate Mega-Gem Portrait of History Sewall Memorial Torches Spaces with Iron