Art at the Archives and History Center
Works of art in the building and garden are by South Carolina artists who competed to have their work displayed at the Archives and History Center. For instance,
Time Work, to the right, is a mixed media sculpture by Linda McCune, an artist who lives in Greer, S.C. Materials used to create the sculpture include wood, glass, copper, aluminum, paper, sand and concrete.
Here is what the artist has to say about the work:
"When I considered the use of this building, it occurred to me that the most important issue is the idea of time. Its passage causes the deterioration of important materials. This building is a good faith gesture in the face of the fragility of all human endeavors. I felt the work should bridge the gap between the past, the present and the future. After much thought I decided that a very large hourglass might be very appropriate for several reasons:
- It is a strong symbol used for many generations to symbolize the passage of time.
- Like the Archives & History Center, the design of this work references various periods. The glass, base and top record the past of South Carolina by using design elements from architecture. Some old methods and new methods of craftsmanship were employed.
- Instead of sand falling through the central shaft, falling objects are "sand like" in texture and surface yet have the form of fragile materials that are parts of the archives, i.e. records and books.
- The airy parts allow visitors to see themselves reflected in the glass as multifaceted resources and see each other through the parts as multifaceted generators of the things that are preserved in this building."
More works by South Carolina artists are on the next pages
Time Work by Linda McCune