Tulip to Life facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tulip to Life |
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| Artist | Eric Ernstberger |
| Year | 1991 |
| Type | Sculpture |
| Dimensions | 110 cm × 440 cm × 530 cm (42 in × 172 in × 207 in) |
| Location | Indianapolis |
| 39°46′4.92″N 86°9′52.48″W / 39.7680333°N 86.1645778°W | |
Tulip to Life is a cool piece of public art in Indianapolis, Indiana. It's located at the Indiana Government Center South. This unique sculpture is actually a drinking fountain! It looks like a giant leaf from a tulip tree.
The artist, Eric Ernstberger, designed it. A company called Tarpenning-LaFollette built it. The sculpture was put in place in 1991.
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What Does It Look Like?
This sculpture shows a super-sized leaf from the American tulip tree. This tree is Indiana's official state tree! The sculpture has two main parts. There's the big leaf part and a smaller part with the drinking fountain.
The whole sculpture is about 207 inches (530 cm) long. That's like two cars parked bumper to bumper! The leaf part is about 172 inches (440 cm) wide. It rises about 16 inches (41 cm) off the ground.
The leaf is made from stainless steel sheets. These sheets are bolted together with shiny brass bolts. Rib-like structures underneath help hold its shape. The leaf is curved, just like a real leaf. A long piece of steel forms the main vein, called the midrib. Small lights underneath make it glow at night.
The drinking fountain part stands on its own. It looks like the leaf's stem, called the petiole. This part is about 42 inches (110 cm) tall. It has a copper bowl for the water. A thick ring of limestone forms the edge of the fountain. The water spigot is a regular one, attached to the copper bowl.
Where Can You Find It?
Tulip to Life is a type of site-specific art. This means it was made especially for its location. It's the main attraction in a rectangular courtyard. This courtyard is surrounded by the buildings of the Indiana Government Center South.
You can get to the courtyard by stairs on the north side. There are also entrance doors on the south side. The sculpture itself is located on the south end of the courtyard.
Who Made This Sculpture?
The idea for Tulip to Life came from Eric Ernstberger. He works for a company called Rundell Ernstberger Associates. They design outdoor spaces and city areas.
The sculpture was built by Tarpenning-LaFollette. Jan R. Martin led the team that made it. They are experts in making things from sheet metal. The sculpture was finished and installed in 1991.
How Is It Doing Now?
In 1993, a group called "Save Outdoor Sculpture!" checked on the sculpture. This group helps protect outdoor art. They said that Tulip to Life was "well maintained." This means it was being taken care of very well.
