Pillar of Fire (sculpture) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pillar of Fire |
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| Artist | William Cochran |
| Year | 2013 |
| Type | glass, concrete |
| Dimensions | 4.9 m (16 ft) |
| Location | 14th and S Streets NW Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| 38°54′51″N 77°01′56″W / 38.914188°N 77.032141°W | |
Pillar of Fire is a bright glass sculpture in Washington, D.C.. It honors Whitman-Walker Health and the healthcare workers who helped many people during a serious health crisis.
Artist William Cochran designed this special artwork. It is made from 370 layers of glass. The sculpture changes colors throughout the day. It was put up in 2013. You can find it in front of the old Whitman-Walker Clinic building. The design was inspired by an old story. This story tells of a pillar of fire that guided people through a desert.
What the Pillar of Fire Looks Like
The Pillar of Fire is a tall, glowing glass sculpture. It stands 16 feet (about 5 meters) high. Its shape is like a slender column. This column represents the guiding pillar of fire from the ancient story.
The glass part of the sculpture weighs 2,000 pounds. It is held together very tightly. A strong glass and steel rod keeps the column under great pressure.
The column has 370 layers of egg-shaped glass. The edges of the glass are not polished. This helps them reflect natural light. The sculpture also lights up from the inside.
The lights inside change colors all day long. They react to the weather and how bright it is outside. A special lighting system controls the colors. At night, the colors are like the rainbow flag. This flag is a symbol of pride and community.
A small sign on the sculpture's base explains its meaning. It says the artwork honors Whitman-Walker Clinic. It also thanks the healthcare workers. They served the community in that building from 1987 to 2008. These were important years during the health crisis.
Who Created the Pillar of Fire
The artist who designed Pillar of Fire is William Cochran. He is from Frederick, Maryland. He is known for creating large public artworks.
Cochran explained his idea for the sculpture. He said it represents how people can be examples for us all. He wanted to show the amazing work of the healthcare workers. They brought kindness and care to people in a difficult time.
John Coventry, a lighting expert, helped with the project. He designed the special lighting system. He also gave it to the project for free. Other companies helped too. Acclaim Lighting provided materials. Eckersley O’Callaghan, a New York firm, handled the engineering. Service Glass Industries put the sculpture together.
Why the Pillar of Fire Was Built
In 2008, a company called JBG Smith bought the old Whitman-Walker Clinic building. This building is in the Logan Circle area of Washington, D.C. A board that protects historic places suggested a small sign. They wanted to remember the clinic's history.
But the company wanted a bigger way to honor the healthcare workers. They wanted to show how important the clinic was. It helped many people during a challenging health crisis. A vice president from JBG, James Nozar, said they wanted a better memorial than just a sign.
In 2012, JBG announced the plan for the sculpture. It would be placed at 14th and S Streets. This was in front of the newly fixed-up building. The building became part of an apartment complex. Many groups approved the plan. The total cost for the artwork was $80,000.
The Pillar of Fire was officially opened on November 4, 2013. Artist William Cochran was there. People from JBG and Whitman-Walker also attended. Councilmember Jim Graham spoke at the event. He used to be in charge of Whitman-Walker. He said the sculpture celebrates the human spirit. He talked about the workers who helped people with very little support. They found hope in that building.
The next month, Mayor Vincent Gray visited the memorial. About 75 people joined him for a candlelight vigil. This event was held on World AIDS Day.
