Milton Horn facts for kids
Milton Horn (born September 1, 1906 – died March 29, 1995) was a talented sculptor and artist from Ukraine who later became an American citizen. He was famous for creating art that worked perfectly with buildings. In 1957, a group called the American Institute of Architects praised his work. They said he showed that architecture and sculpture are not separate arts. Instead, they can be "one and the same" when artists and builders work together.
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Milton Horn's Early Life and Studies
Milton Horn was born on September 1, 1906, near Kyiv, which was then part of the Russian Empire. He was Jewish. In 1913, when he was seven years old, he moved to the United States with his parents. By 1917, Horn became an American citizen.
He started drawing and painting in 1918. From 1921 to 1923, Horn studied with sculptor Henry Hudson Kitson in Boston. He also attended the Copley Society there. Later, from 1923 to 1927, he studied at the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design in New York. In 1925, he won a special award called a Tiffany Foundation Fellowship. Studying the Foundation's collection of Chinese paintings and Japanese prints greatly influenced his drawing style.
In 1949, Horn was one of 250 sculptors who showed their work at a big international sculpture exhibit. This event took place at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Famous Works and Achievements
Milton Horn created many important sculptures throughout his career. Here are some of his notable projects and achievements:
Early Commissions and Recognition
In 1927, Horn received his first major job. He designed a sculpted ceiling for a perfume store in the Hotel Savoy Plaza in New York. In 1928, he married Estelle Oxenhorn, who was a dancer. She later became a skilled photographer and helped document his artwork.
In 1931, the New England Society of Contemporary Art in Boston honored him with his own art show. From 1932 to 1934, he helped organize ancient Egyptian items at the Brooklyn Museum. In 1935, he took part in the government's Works Progress Administration program, which helped artists during the Great Depression. He also became a founding member of the Sculptor's Guild in 1936.
Public Art and Collaborations
Milton Horn created several sculptures for public buildings, especially post offices:
- In 1938, he finished 'Spirit of the Mail' for the United States Post Office in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
- In 1939, his clay sculpture called "Summer" won an award at the 1939 New York World's Fair. That same year, he completed 'Apprenticeship of Colonel Whitin' for the Post Office in Whitinsville, Massachusetts.
- In 1941, he created "Paul Bunyan Straightening out the Round River" for the Post Office in Iron River, Michigan.
From 1939 to 1949, Horn was a professor and artist-in-residence at Olivet College in Michigan. In 1943, he worked with famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. They created a wood relief mural for the Carlton D. Wall House in Plymouth, Michigan.
Meaningful Sculptures and City Projects
In 1947, Horn completed 'Job', a sculpture that showed human suffering and strong faith during World War II. In 1949, he moved to Chicago.
His first project for a synagogue came in 1950. He created a stone relief for the West Suburban Temple Har Zion in River Forest, Illinois. This artwork showed a divine presence. In 1951, his 'Job' sculpture was shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
From 1953 to 1954, he sculpted Torah ark doors for a temple in Chicago. These wooden panels showed life-size figures of two cherubim. He also completed three bronze sculptures called "The Teacher, the Mother, the Father" for the PTA headquarters in Chicago.
One of his most famous works for the City of Chicago was "Chicago Rising from the Lake". This large sculpture was first installed high on a parking garage in 1954. It is now located at ground level on the Columbus Avenue bridge near the Chicago River Walk.
From 1954 to 1956, he worked on "History of Medicine." These were four huge relief sculptures for the West Virginia University Medical Center. In 1957, he received a special honor from the American Institute of Architects. That same year, he created the "Ark-Reredos" for a chapel at the West Virginia University Medical Center. This piece served as both a wall behind the altar and a Torah ark.
In 1958, he completed a bronze relief for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. This artwork showed various charity activities like child care, religious study, and scientific research.
Later Works and Legacy
From 1963 to 1965, Horn worked on the huge "Hymn to Water" for Chicago's main water purification plant. This was his largest work, celebrating water as a vital force for life.
He also created a bronze relief called "Jacob's Struggle" (1963, cast 1969). This sculpture shows Jacob wrestling with an angel. After Horn's death, this relief was given to St. Thomas Church and Convent in Hyde Park, Chicago.
In 1971, he made the "Physician" series of four medallions. These were his only works made for private sale. In 1972, he was honored by the National Sculpture Society.
His wife, Estelle, passed away in 1975. In her honor, he worked on "God and Israel" from 1975 to 1979. In 1976, he received an honorary degree from Olivet College. He was also elected to the National Academy of Design.
From 1979 to 1994, he completed a large bronze plaque for the Medical Center at West Virginia University, also dedicated to his late wife. He also restored other works and created new bronze medallions. He established the Milton Horn Fine Art Trust to preserve his art.
In 1989, a special exhibit of his work was held at the Spertus Museum of Judaica. He moved to London for a short time, where he created a life-size bronze portrait. In 1992, he returned to Chicago to work on new pieces, but he became ill and could not finish them.
After His Death
Milton Horn passed away on March 29, 1995. After his death, his art continued to be recognized. In 2005, his sculpture "Composition" (1944) became part of the permanent collection at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Starting that same year, more than eighteen of his works were placed in museums and public places by the Milton Horn Fine Art Trust. A major project was the restoration and reinstallation of his 3.5-ton bronze sculpture, "Chicago Rising from the Lake." It is now located north of the Chicago River on the Columbus Drive Bridge in Chicago.
Architectural Sculptures by Milton Horn
Milton Horn's work often became a part of buildings. Here are some examples of his architectural sculptures:
- Paul Bunyan Straightening out the Red River, U.S. Post Office, Iron Mountain, Michigan, 1941
- Cherrywood bas relief, Wall Residence, Plymouth, Michigan, 1944
- Not By Might, West Suburban Temple Har Zion, River Forest, Illinois, 1950
- Teacher, Mother, and Father, National Parents & Teachers Association Building, Chicago, Illinois, 1953
- Chicago Rising from the Lake, Chicago, Illinois, 1954 (now on the Chicago riverwalk)
- Engineering and Research, Fishing and Farming, Continental Apartments, Chicago, Illinois, 1955
- Reliefs, West Virginia University Medical Sciences Building Pylons, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1956
- "The Spirit of Jewish Philanthropy, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Building, Chicago, Illinois, 1958
- Hymn to Water, Central District Filtration Plant of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 1966
- Man Wrests from the Earth Its Natural Resources to Build a Pathway to the Stars, National Bank of Commerce Building, Charleston, West Virginia, 1967
Milton Horn's Thoughts on Sculpture
Milton Horn had strong beliefs about what sculpture should be. He wrote: "The purpose of sculpture is not just to decorate. It's meant to connect people to their place in the universe. Sculpture takes up real space. It uses its own structure to make us feel a sense of reality. Whether it's part of a building or standing freely, it creates a relationship with its surroundings. Like life, it changes as you view it from different angles. It can also be understood in new ways over time. Because it exists in real space, it interacts with that space and helps us understand it."
He believed that sculpture is not just a copy of people or animals. Even though it uses ideas from nature, its purpose is different. He felt that sculpture, like architecture, is an "organic abstraction." This means it's a simplified, natural form made from concrete materials. When sculpture is combined with buildings or natural landscapes, it helps people feel connected to their world.
