Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Mary Ann Mears Sculptures


Mary Ann Mears is a sculptor who lives in Baltimore, Maryland. Many of her sculptures grace public areas such as bike paths in Maryland (where I first encountered them), but they are also found in other states and even in Japan. The sculptures are typically large, brightly colored abstract shapes made of aluminum or steel. The table below provides information about all the public sculptures that I know about. Unfortunately, there are rarely expository plaques with the sculptures. Another list of her sculptures can be found here. There is now an official Mary Ann Mears web site with an extensive list of her sculptures at public and private sites including the new Spun Grace at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore.

This interactive Google map gives accurate locations for those in Central Maryland that I have viewed.

Click on the photo links to see images of the sculptures.


Title /
Installation
Date
Location / (Marker on Google Map) Links Comments
Beacon 1
1985

Bethesda
Metro Station
plaza
(A)

photo
photo

A major work in the large plaza at the station entrance.
Gyre & Gimble

Imagination Stage
4908 Auburn Ave.
Bethesda, MD
(B)
photo
close-up
plaque

a whimsical collection of
sculptures
Floating Garden
Spring 2004

3003 Hospital Dr., Cheverly, MD (C) information inside Cheverly Health Services Building
Coloratura
2002

Southern Ave. Metro Station
(D)
photo
Callooh Callay

Baltimore & Annapolis Rail Trail
Glen Burnie, MD
(E)
photo
information

adjacent to bike path
Caracol
1984

Snowden Center
Oakland Mills Road
Columbia, MD
(F)
photo
information

An odd, out-of-the-way location.
Red Buoyant
1978

100 E. Pratt St.
Baltimore, MD
(across from Harbor Place)
(G)
photo
information

Duplicated in Kawasaki, Japan
Red Buoyant II
June 1984

Nikko Hotel
Kawasaki, Japan
photo
information
An expression of friendship
between Baltimore and Kawasaki
Boanerges
1978
Northeast Middle School
Baltimore, MD


Brio
1979
Ft. Worthington Recreation Center
Baltimore, MD
information
Ailes
1983
Notre Dame Prep School
Towson, MD


? White Marsh Mall

Esperance
1983
Conn. Dept. of Mental Retardation
Norwalk, CT


Oasis Diffraction
1999
1219 Broad St.
General Assembly Hall
Durham, NC

a mobile inside the Hall
Sky Dancing
1994
Student Recreation Center
UNC-Chapel Hill


Caged Heuristics
1997
Meyerhoff Gallery

1 comment:

Ed said...

Interesting! I've admired a couple of her outdoor sculptures, but I didn't know anything about the artist.