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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

REPORT OF SUBCOMMITTEE ON ORRERY

Dr. Brown distributed booklets relating to the work of José de Rivera whom the Subcommittee recommended as the sculptor for the exterior exhibit to be erected in front of the Museum of History and Technology, facing The Mall. Rivera had created a design of a continuous, stainless steel, curved object, which will rotate very slowly above a black marble base on a shaft or pylon in front of the entrance to the building. Dr. Brown stated this sculpture was nonrepresentative and was conceived to be a modern concept of a model of the solar system, comparable to the orrery of the 18th century. It would represent the harmonious movements of planetary objects and the solar system. In its slow rotation it would cast shadows and reflect the sun--a contemporary and forward-looking exhibit of interest. 

Dr. Brown reported that such objects were costly. Construction is difficult and it was anticipated the fabrication work would take 18 months. The model must be made up in 1/4 scale, then 1/2 scale, and finally full scale. The estimated cost would be $104,520, excluding the base and the mechanism to make it rotate. The latter would cost approximately $25,000. In all it would take $130,000 in order to accomplish the work. Dr. Brown in comparing the cost of similar pieces of sculpture gave the following figures: 

Bronze Fountain opposite the National Gallery of Art $500,000
Iwo Jima Memorial $1,200,000
Simon Bolivar Equestrian Statue $500,000
State Department Courtyard (architectural base not included) $102,500

The Subcommittee recommended that the Regents give approval to this imaginative scheme. 

Mr. Cannon asked if there would be a question about the continuous operation of the sculpture once it was installed. Dr. Brown replied that an electric motor turned it and that the mechanism was simple. Dr. Brown pointed out that the position of the exhibit would bring it over the automobile subway entrance and that a contributing factor in its choice was the fact that the maximum weight would be an estimated 6,000 pounds. A solid sculpture of greater weight could not be placed over the subway.