George Rickey Beatrixpark Schiedam

Kunstwerk Georg Rickey (1907-2002)

Horizontal Column of Five squares Excentric II

Beatrixpark Schiedam 2009 (15 juli)

Biography
George Rickey was born in South Bend (Indiana) on 6 June, 1907. He began to study in Oxford in 1926, but went to Paris in 1929 where he finished his studies in 1930. In 1945, he made the first mobiles, inspired by the works of Alexandre Calder. He designed his works on the basis of the ideas of kinetic sculpture and Naturzeit. Unlike Jean Tiguely at his time, all of Rickey's mobiles and kinetic plastics moved without auxiliary engines. Rickey used wind energy and gravitation for his works. Rickey spent some time in Berlin from 1968 to 1969 holding a scholarship from DAAD. He received numerous awards and in 1987 became a member of the Akademie der Künste in Berlin. In the 1990s the artist realized numerous mobiles made of stainless steel elements in which he translated the principle of a pendulum into the surrounding area. Even the small moving sculpture with a size of 60 cm "One up, one down oblique", which was created in 1975, follows these principles. The titles of Rickey's works reflect their simple construction ("Two Lines" or "Six Lines in a T") which, however, have been implemented with scientific precision. Alongside these small mobiles Rickey also created numerous free plastics which were predominantly attached to a building and in this way realized the idea of "Kunst am Bau" (construction including art). Impressive examples are the 5 meter work on the premises of Fachhochschule Fulda, University of Applied Sciences, composed of asymmetric needle-like metal arms or the kinetic plastic at the broadcast building of the TV and radio station Hessischer Rundfunk in Frankfurt am Main. The latter consists of three stainless-steel poles looking as if it was floating weightlessly. It is only the wind that makes them move and change their constellations. George Rickey died on 17 July, 2002.

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[iampico]

A magnificent sculpture in the perfect setting... Thanks so much for posting - I mute the sound and remember 'The Moldau' which seems more appropriate to me...

[Haasenpad]

@iampico thanks and of course i agree about the music, that is a matter of taste, i often see beautiful vids here on YT, turn off the sound and chose another YT film just for the music! :)

[paulr1234]

In the 1970s I remember seeing some short films that I think the BBC used to broadcast on daytime TV. I'd be really interested in hearing from anyone who had recollections of these films. The first was a silent art film shot at the Themis solar furnace at Odeillo in the Pyrenees. The other was of a strange mechanical sculpture in a european public park. I'd really like to hear from anyone who knows anything about these films. I can be reached at paulr1234@yahoo.com.

[lewynmonty]

pretty epic mate well done =)