Harold Washington Library - II [Sculptural ornamentaion]

Harold Washington Library..
Address: 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 ..
Completed: 1991
Architect: Thomas Beeby of Hammond, Beeby and Babka Inc..
Continued from the above post, click here..
There are some very interesting sculptural ornamentation on the walls of the library..

- Face of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, with the city motto, Urbs in Horto [City in a Garden] inscribed below her face and cornstalks extending down..
- Face of the Windy City Man..
- Y-symbol, with CPU inscribed inbetween, with CPU standing for Chicago Public Library..

In 1993, seven ornaments were added to the roof, by the Kent Bloomer Studio. These were designed by Ray Kaskey, a former student of Bloomer's.
- Barn owls perched at the four corners of the building..
- The Great Horned Owl were placed in the centers of the State, Congress and Van Buren sides of the building..
The bird owl is associated with Minerva, the goddess of knowledge, wisdom and learning..The owls in turn are surrounded by a fantastical environment of swirling seedpods, feathered helixes, and Greek palmettes.
# For more on the roof ornamentation.. click here..

For more on .. [click on the link]
# Harold Washington Library..
# Harold Washington Library: Architectural sculptures.
# Harold Washington Library: Roof ornamentation
# Harold Washington Library: Atrium