Continuum (sculpture)

Continuum

Artist	Charles O. Perry
Year	1976 (1976)
Type	Bronze
Dimensions	4.3 m (14 ft)
Location	National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C., United States
Coordinates	38°53′15.93″N 77°1′11.6″W
Owner	Smithsonian Institution

Continuum is a public artwork by American sculptor Charles O. Perry located in front of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, United States.

Description

The sculpture is a large swirling abstract that consists of 8 bronze pieces painted black and placed on a pole. It moves freely.

Information

According to the artist the piece "began as an exploration of the Möbius strip, a product of pure mathematics formed by joining two ends of a strip of paper after giving one end a 180 degree twist, thus creating only one edge. The center of the bronze sculpture symbolizes a black hole, while the edge shows the flow of matter through the center from positive to negative space and back again in a continuum."

A similar sculpture exists, by Perry, called "Continuum II" which is installed Marina Square in Singapore and dates to 1986.

from below  from the front (S)  from the side (SW)  from the side (NW)  from the back (N)  undergoing conservation in 2010

Condition

In July 2010 the piece underwent restoration to remove a green patina that formed on the sculpture. Perry's vision was for the piece to remain black. The piece was removed from its location to the west end of the building where it underwent its conservation by a contractor. The granite base that holds the 7,000 pound sculpture was also repaired.

See also

• Delta Solar
• List of public art in Washington, D.C., Ward 2

External links

• "Continuum" on dcMemorials
• The Mathematical Tourist on "Continuum"
• Möbius at Fermilab
• Outdoor Sculptures: Air and Space Museum