The Unisphere and Its Strength

In Flushing Meadows Park there are many different pieces of art and locations where people can come together. One of these pieces in the particle is “The Unisphere” created by Gilmore David Clark who was a landscape architect. Due to it being about one hundred feet tall is impossible to fully experience what is right in front of you without walking in a full circle to see what is a replica of a hollow earth. This sculpture carries a message of peace, strength, and togetherness. With an extensive look into the detail that is present in this art, we can see its message, alongside the true beauty it represents. This work is a full steel structure and has a continuous gray coloring all around it also it hasn’t changed after many years of standing tall, with no signs of vandalism, its cleanliness brings a sense of respect. Two circles surround at ground level where one is used for walking, biking, running, or standing (if you like), and the other is used to place and hold the water fountains that spray whenever whoever controls this feels like it. Three steel circles surround the statue of the Earth kind of like a miniature globe would have or how satellites surround the earth in its orbit. The inside of where fountains have a baby blue/green look to them probably from the constant exposure to water and mother nature. This earth has all the continents with visible differences or favorites between any of them. Showing a true representation between each piece of land and also showing each continent’s different landscape texture with layers of steel representing mountains. There is no steel to represent the oceans of the world, just metal bars to hold the structure up. These steel lines go across the whole work being parallel with each other making boxes. Every piece of land and island is present and can be seen except for Antarctica because it’s on the bottom where it can barely be seen. The action to detail gets more and more the longer you spend staring at this work. Some details can be seen when you zoom in on the camera of your phone. Its location in particular makes a lot of sense with it being in New York where it is very diverse and makes a bunch of very different people able to appreciate the work of art that is around them. Each continent is heavily detailed while showing no human civilizations, just the landscapes produced by mother nature. It has a short outer wall where it looks as if its purpose is to keep water inside while it mostly looks like people use it to sit, take pictures or stand on it to get a better view. 

The “Unisphere was made during the 1960s (specifically 1964) in a time when global relationships were on the fence and needed to be strengthened, which can all be said for today’s time as well. The message can be seen once we take all these details into account, especially with this work being during times when the Civil rights movement was pushing very hard for change and during the Vietnam War antiwar protests. This was probably why this was meant to be a symbol of peace and show that we are all similar/connected. Personally, this work brings nothing but good memories even after being away from it for years. Upon seeing it for the first time in years a blast of nostalgia hit my brain with many memories from elementary and middle school where my friends and I would hang out during field trips and have a good time. What I most like about this piece is the fact that you have to move around to fully see and take the project as a whole making it a whole process that you have to engage in. Which can relate directly to the world and the people in it where you can’t just look at people, life, or anything really with just one perspective, it takes many perspectives to fully understand what you are looking at. Every piece of land is given the same amount of incredible detail but is also so similar in coloring and tone. This also shows how even though we come from different places we are all still the same and on the same team. I chose this piece of art because I am familiar with it and visited it many times when I was a kid for I figured why not revisit something I spend so much time around. This was because my school had “Walk-A-Thons” to help raise money for the school. This didn’t care matter to me, the only thing I care about was the fact that I had an excuse to go outside, chill with my friends, and stare at a piece of art that I knew nothing about. The memories I made in Flushing Meadows Park have all been positive and reinforced this original idea and view I have with the Unispshere because my idea of what this work represents in its message might line up with one thing. Someone else can argue that it represents something else entirely, an example of this would be that it represents us as a people/species that are insignificant. There is not a single person in this piece of art but we consider it Earth which can be seen as an example of who in the long run or the big picture we are not needed. Mother nature will keep going and humans are not as important as we think ourselves to be. My rebuttable against this argument is that from what I have seen this piece of art has only brought people together rather than separated them because it shows us that we are all the same people at the end of the day even though we have differences we are all the same on the inside. From the times this was made to now it cherries a message of togetherness and strength because of how tall it stands without any weakness. Its true beauty is in its strength to bring different types of people together to come to watch it and see it for what it truly is… A mirror, an image showing us who we truly are, a people who are the same and come from the same place.

Revision- Flushing Meadows Park is home to stunning works of art that bring people together and convey powerful messages. Designed by landscape architect Gilmore David Clarke, the Unisphere is nearly 30 meters tall and offers a unique experience that requires walking around to fully appreciate the hollow earth replica. This sculpture symbolizes peace, strength, and unity, and its intricate detail and inherent beauty further emphasize its deep meaning. Given the variety of the city, it is significant that “The Unisphere” is situated in New York, where individuals from different backgrounds may enjoy this piece of art. Each continent is painstakingly portrayed, stripped of human habitation, and showing just the untamed landscapes molded by nature. Although an outside wall’s primary function is to collect water, it may also serve as a lounging place, a location for shooting pictures, or a vantage point for greater views.  Overall the Unisphere can be seen as a symbol of peace and a place where everyone can relate to and appreciate. 

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