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Town and Gown (Sponenburgh)

Coordinates: 44°56′14″N 123°01′50″W / 44.93733°N 123.03063°W / 44.93733; -123.03063
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Town and Gown
The artwork in 2018
Map
ArtistMark Sponenburgh
Year1991 (1991)
MediumBronze sculpture
LocationSalem, Oregon, United States
Coordinates44°56′14″N 123°01′50″W / 44.93733°N 123.03063°W / 44.93733; -123.03063

Town and Gown is an outdoor 1991 bronze sculpture by Mark Sponenburgh, installed on the north side of the Willamette University campus in Salem, Oregon, United States.

Description

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Town and Gown depicts four people: two academics and two townspeople. The academics wear caps and gowns; the man carries a book and the female holds a branch. The two female townspeople wear capes, dresses, and hats; one carries a purse and the other holds an umbrella.[1] The statues each measure approximately 50 x 18 x 12 inches, and the brick base measures approximately 33 x 80 x 55 inches.

Plaque for the sculpture

The plaque reads: TOWN AND GOWN / MARK SPONENBURGH, SCULPTOR / THIS SCULPTURE, DEPICTING TWO ACADEMICS / AND TWO TOWNSPEOPLE, COMMEMORATES / THE LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN / WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY AND THE TOWN OF SALEM, / BOTH ESTABLISHED EARLY IN THE 1840S. / DEDICATED FEBRUARY 1, 1992, ON THE OCCASION / OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY.[2]

History

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The sculpture was presented to commemorate the university's sesquicentennial, and was dedicated on February 1, 1992.[1][2]

Town and Gown was surveyed by the Smithsonian Institution's "Save Outdoor Sculpture!" program in 1993.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Town and Gown, (sculpture)". Waymarking. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Town and Gown, (sculpture)". Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.