Kvinneakt

Kvinneakt
English: Nude Woman[1]
Kvinneakt in front of MAX Light Rail tracks in 2012
Artist	Norman J. Taylor
Year	1973–1975 (1973–1975)
Type	Sculpture
Medium	Bronze
Dimensions	180 cm × 97 cm × 64 cm (71 in × 38 in × 25 in)
Location	Portland, Oregon
Coordinates	45.5193°N 122.67835°W / 45.5193; -122.67835
Owner	City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council

Kvinneakt ("female nude" in Norwegian)^[2][3] is an abstract bronze sculpture located on the Transit Mall of downtown Portland, Oregon. Designed and created by Norman J. Taylor between 1973 and 1975, the work was funded by TriMet and the United States Department of Transportation and was installed on the Transit Mall in 1977. The following year Kvinneakt appeared in the "Expose Yourself to Art" poster which featured future Mayor of Portland Bud Clark flashing the sculpture. It remained in place until November 2006 when it was removed temporarily during renovation of the Transit Mall and the installation of the MAX Light Rail on the mall.

Originally located on Fifth Avenue, the sculpture was reinstalled on the mall in 2009 at a different location, on SW Sixth Avenue between Alder and Morrison, where it remains. According to TriMet, Kvinneakt is one of 40 public art sculptures in the Transit Mall's art collection.^[4] The sculpture is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council and is administered by the City of Portland Metropolitan Arts Commission.^[5][6]

History

Plaque for Kvinneakt

Kvinneakt was designed and created by Norman J. Taylor, a Seattle-based artist and professor of sculpture at the University of Washington,^[7] between 1973 and 1975.^[5][6] The piece is an abstract bronze sculpture depicting a full-length nude woman measuring 71" x 38" x 25".^[6][8] Kvinneakt was one of 11 sculptures selected for the Portland Transit Mall from more than 500 entries entered in a juried competition. The works were purchased through a budget of $250,000;^[7] Kvinneakt was commissioned at a cost of $6,500.^[9] Funding sources for the project included Tri-Met (20 percent) and the United States Department of Transportation (80 percent).^[7][8] Of the 11 sculptures, only Kvinneakt and Kathleen McCullough's (née Conchuratt)^[10][11] Cat in Repose were considered "figurative".^[7] Claiming his intention was not to be vulgar, Taylor said: "It's about grace and motion and a certain beauty and pride in the human figure. That may be sensual, but that's far different from sex."^[7] According to the Regional Arts & Culture Council, Taylor intended the piece to be "confrontational"; he admitted, "the worst reaction you could give my work is no reaction."^[8]

Kvinneakt was installed on the newly built Transit Mall in 1977.^[12][13][14] The bronze sculpture was sited on SW Fifth Avenue near Washington Street^[14][15][16] (between Washington and Stark). In 1978, Kvinneakt appeared on the "Expose Yourself to Art" poster, which featured future Portland Mayor Bud Clark flashing the nude woman.^[17][18]

In 1981, about 30 minutes before the start of April Fools' Day, three men attempted to steal the 250-pound (110 kg)^[19] statue, breaking it free from its pedestal and dragging it towards a waiting car before being spotted by a city worker and fleeing the scene.^[16] Damage from the incident included a broken right index finger and other cracks. Repairs cost $3,000 and were undertaken by Norman Taylor, who also strengthened the sculpture's body and its connections to its base.^[19] Kvinneakt was reinstalled at Fifth Avenue and Washington six months later, in October 1981.^[19]

The sculpture has served as a stop on walking tours of the city, including the Metropolitan Arts Commission's 1987 Portland Public Art walking tour and the 2003 Public Art Conference's walking tour of downtown.^[1][20] On November 7, 2006, Kvinneakt was temporarily removed for renovation of the Transit Mall and installation of the MAX Light Rail along the mall. Its removal was supervised by staff of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.^[21] During this time Kvinneakt and other removed works were cleaned and refurbished.^[22] In September 2009, the statue was re-sited on SW Sixth Avenue between Alder and Morrison.^[2][23] Representatives from the Regional Arts & Culture Council and the TriMet Public Art Program conducted the unveiling.^[24] According to the former organization's public art manager, the sculpture will likely remain in its current location for as long as 30 years.^[22]

There have been other instances when Kvinneakt was used to make a statement or act as a prop. On April Fools' Day, 1982, the Portland Rainmakers gathered around the sculpture, issued a proclamation condemning nudity, "even in statues, for viewing by the general public", and left the statue covered with a "size 42-plus", lacy bra.^[25] In 1984 the statue was vandalized with the painted text "Jesus Saves".^[26] In January 1985, on the day Bud Clark took the oath of office as Mayor of Portland, Kvinneakt was draped anonymously with a sash reading "Congratulations".^[27] In 2007 Tom Burkleaux, founder of New Deal Vodka, posted an image of the sculpture on the company's website with the woman's nipples airbrushed out, protesting censorship after the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau deemed the website "offensive".^[28] In 2012, Century of Action, a project of the Oregon Women's History Consortium, used the sculpture to promote women's suffrage by placing a "Votes for Women" sash across her chest as part of the organization's "Sash Project".^[29]

In October 2024, a satirical statue of Donald Trump called In Honor of a Lifetime of Sexual Assault by an unknown artist was installed beside Kvinneakt.^[30]

Reception

Kvinneakt is often referred to as the most notorious of the sculptures installed in the Transit Mall during the 1970s.^[18][31] In addition to being somewhat controversial because it is a nude, the sculpture has also received mixed reviews as a work of art. In 1981, Taylor recalled that following the sculpture's first installation one man told him that "he ought to be ashamed of himself."^[19] In 1985, Jeff Kuechle of The Oregonian listed the work as one of the city's "worst sculptures".^[32] In the article, Claire Kelly, director of Portland State University's art and architecture program said, "She's more than simplistic, she's absurd. It's not a piece that belongs on public display."^[32] In contrast, Monk Magazine described the sculpture as "the best-looking girl in Portland" with "her stunning eyes and voluptuous figure".^[13] According to the magazine, Portland is the only city in the United States with a "flasher statue".^[13] The sculpture was included in Kate Chynoweth's 2003 book, The Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest: A Romantic Travel Guide, as one of Portland's "romantic highlights".^[33]

See also

• Depictions of nudity

References

1. "Arts Commission offers guide to downtown Portland art works". The Oregonian. August 27, 1987. p. E6. Note: The sculpture is specifically referred to as Kvinneakt ("female nude").
2. Cox, Randy (September 9, 2009). "Portland reinstalls Iconic Sculpture". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Advance Publications. ISSN 8750-1317. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
3. Abrahamson, Rachel (August 2, 2006). "Where Nature Ends: Shining a spotlight on Boise's public art". Boise Weekly. Boise, Idaho. Archived from the original on November 26, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
4. "Livable Portland: Land Use and Transportation Initiatives" (PDF). TriMet. p. 35. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 19, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
5. "Kvinneakt, 1975". cultureNOW. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
6. "Kvinneakt, (sculpture)". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved May 8, 2012.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
7. Fagan, Beth (March 19, 1978). "Sculptures parade on street, act as foil for moving crowds". The Sunday Oregonian. p. M8.
8. "Public Art Search: Kvinneakt". Regional Arts & Culture Council. Archived from the original on April 15, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
9. "Mall statue under wraps while awaiting repair work". The Oregonian. April 4, 1981. p. A13.
10. "Engagements: Conchuratt-McCullough". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. January 23, 1971. p. 55.
11. "Winners named in $250,000 project for Transit Mall". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. January 5, 1977. p. C4.
12. "Sculpture and Statues – A History of Portland, Oregon Through its Art". Museum of the City. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
13. "Portland: The Monk List". Monk Magazine. Monk Media. Archived from the original on November 8, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
14. "Artist, Clark set to sign". The Oregonian. June 27, 1984. p. B4.
15. Guernsey, John (December 22, 1977). "Earthquake Ethel undressed? $1 million suit rattles city". The Oregonian. p. B1.
16. Evangelista Jr., Benny (April 2, 1981). "Mall statue safe after theft foiled". The Oregonian. p. 1.
17. Waterhouse, Ben (May 25, 2011). "Expose Yourself to Bikes". Willamette Week. Portland, Oregon: City of Roses Newspapers. Archived from the original on June 22, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
18. Gottberg, John (August 18, 2004). Best Places Portland: The Locals' Guide to the Best Restaurants, Lodgings, Sights, Shopping, and More!. Sasquatch Books. p. 259. ISBN 9781570614002. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
19. "Sculpture returned to mall". The Oregonian. Vol. 131, no. 37, 840. October 3, 1981. p. 1.
20. "Public Art Conference Archive – 2003". Americans for the Arts. 2003. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
21. "Public Art to be Removed from the Portland Mall during Construction". Art Notes. Regional Arts & Culture Council. December 2006. Archived from the original on November 27, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
22. Summers, Mariah (July 15, 2008). "Downtown art holes up during Transit Mall work". Portland Tribune. Portland, Oregon: Pamplin Media Group. pp. 1–2. Retrieved May 8, 2012.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
23. Smith, Marty (November 18, 2009). "Dr. Know". Willamette Week. Portland, Oregon: City of Roses Newspapers. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
24. Carter, Dan (September 10, 2009). "Art in Transit". Daily Journal of Commerce. Portland, Oregon: The Dolan Company. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
25. Hart, Jack (April 2, 1982). "Sacred cows foil of fools for April 1". The Oregonian. Vol. 132, no. 37, 992. p. 1.
26. "Statue vandalized". The Oregonian. January 3, 1984. p. B3.
27. Painter Jr., John (January 3, 1985). "Inaugural ball takes on regal proportions". The Oregonian. p. B2.
28. "Gossip Should Have No Friends". Willamette Week. Portland, Oregon: City of Roses Newspapers. February 21, 2007. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
29. Sources for Century of Action's Sash Project:
    • "The Sash Project" (PDF). HIPFiSHmonthly. 13 (158). Astoria, Oregon: 9. March 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
    • "Sash Project: Put a Sash On It". Century of Action. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
    • "Organizing Committee". Century of Action. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
30. Silverman, Julia (2024-10-27). "Satirical Trump statue appears overnight on downtown Portland street, only to be beheaded hours later". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
31. "Chapter 2: Portland's 1972 Downtown Plan: Rebirth of the Public City" (PDF). Bruner Foundation. p. 61. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
32. Kuechle, Jeff (November 24, 1985). "The Rogue's Gallery: Portland's worst sculptures". The Sunday Oregonian. pp. B1, B13.
33. Chynoweth, Kate (October 29, 2003). The Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest: A Romantic Travel Guide. Sasquatch Books. p. 2. ISBN 9781570613791. Retrieved May 8, 2012.

External links

• Image: "Expose Yourself to Art" poster (1978), City of Portland
• Travel Portland: "A Guide to Portland Public Art" Archived 2013-06-19 at the Wayback Machine (PDF)
• TriMet MAX Green Line Public Art Guide (PDF), pages 2, 33, 36