Sculpture #1

Title: Labor

Year: 1966

Artist: Edward Meshekoff

Location: In the right side of the lobby of Department of Labor, State Office Campus, Bldg 12

Material: Welded Bronze

This is a representational sculpture of eight individuals standing side by side with a dog. There are two adults (1 male. 1 female) and 6 children (4 girls ,2 boys). The sculpture is elevated off the ground and attached to a wall in the interior of the Department of Labor Building. In size, it is about six feet high and approximately nine feet wide.

The sculpture is made out of bronze. Lines are a prominent theme in the sculpture. The first girl on the left adorns a pleated lined skirt. These same lines are in her head. All the individuals have the same pattern of lines throughout the sculpture. The bronze is a textured bronze that has gives it a textured and jagged feel. The lines are also prominent because all the individuals are long and line like-even the dog.

Since the sculpture is attached to a wall, the view of the sculpture can only be seen by viewing the front of the individuals There are no other colors used in this sculpture other then the bronze color.

In my opinion, the meaning of the sculpture appears to be parents with small children. Since it is in the Department of Labor building and the sculpture is titled "Labor", I think there is a double meaning. It is for the people working laboring at work and also the family is labor. I think the placement if the sculpture being in the Labor building is a more significant factor then lighting or other factors.