installed at the Newberry installed at the NewberryCHICAGO, Februrary 13, 2009 - On February 9, 2009, the Newberry's "Umanitá" sculpture, created by noted international sculptor Virginio Ferrari, was installed on the front steps of the Library. The near-identical replica weighs about 400 pounds and is seven feet tall. The original sculpture by Ferrari was stolen in February 2008. It has not been recovered.
"Umanitá" (an Italian word meaning humanity or humankind) has been at the Newberry since 1987. This sculpture has served as the model for The Newberry Library Award, given since 1987 for distinguished contributions to the humanities. The most recent recipients of The Newberry Library Award were Anthony Grafton (2008) and Mayor of the City of Chicago Richard M. Daley (2007).
Ferrari created and fabricated the new sculpture in Verona, Italy during the summer of 2008. It was shipped back to Chicago this winter. The new sculpture is about 10 inches larger than the original. With the opportunity of recreating the sculpture for the outdoor location and keeping within the sculpture's original design, Ferrari felt that a slightly larger diameter would add to its visibility and dramatic affect.
The Newberry will celebrate its installation at 5:30 pm on March 4 when Ferrari will deliver a Wednesday Club lecture on his work. Tickets are $9 ($6 for Associates of the Newberry at the Author Level and above).
For more information, visit www.newberrry.org.
Photo courtesy of Ferrari Studios.