Over the past year and a half, the Kennedy Center has been the site of much more than a hostile takeover and some major controversies; ass threats of a major renovation at best and complete demolition at worst; the most recent event is the removal of a sculpture that was presented to The Center by the artist Joel Shapiro in 2019.
The 24-foot aluminum sculpture is title “Blue” and resembles a human stick figure in the process of kicking.
The Kennedy Center describes the painted aluminum statue as, “Joel Shapiro’s sculptures explode with the exuberance of youth. Their simple rectangles are assembled like stick figures that magically come alive. Blue is poised in mid-kick, turning the surrounding landscape into a giant stage as it prepares to pirouette across the grass. Shapiro spent two years in India in the Peace Corps, where he was inspired by the integration of art and culture. His sculptures are installed in scores of cities around the world. They achieve the goal set centuries ago by Egyptian and Greek sculptors—to endow base materials with movement and spirit of life.”
Located along the Video Wall at the REACH – an addition to the Kennedy Center – the statue was removed by the National Park Service by direction from The Center with a relocation to be determined.
A spokesperson stated, “we are deeply grateful to Joel Shapiro for the years ‘Blue’ has spent animating our campus and connecting visitors to his vision. We are honored to have been stewards of his vibrant work and a part of his enduring legacy.”