Fire and Water (sculpture)

Fire and Water is a public art work by American artist John Luttropp, located on the southwest side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[1] The multi-element architectural sculpture was created for the entrance of the Milwaukee Fire Department Engine Company #25 station. It is located at 300 S. 84th St.

Fire and Water
ArtistJohn Luttropp
Year1988
Typeconcrete, neon, plexiglass
LocationMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Coordinates43.02861°N 88.017009°W / 43.02861; -88.017009
OwnerCity of Milwaukee

Description

The sculpture includes two primary elements: a pair of neon-topped tapering concrete walls flanking the entry sidewalk, and a wall-mounted neon sign displaying the number 25 in a stylized font. During the day, the neon is not lit. At night, the entry numbers glow red, and the tops of the tapering wall glow blue. According to the Smithsonian Institution's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey, the red neon symbolizes fire and the blue neon symbolizes water spray from fire hoses.[1]

Historical information

The City of Milwaukee commissioned the work for $9,000 and it was greeted with some criticism. The Milwaukee Sentinel compared the neon look to a fast food restaurant and quoted hesitant firefighters based at the station.[2]

gollark: It's not exactly very internally consistent, but humans are *masters* of rationalization.
gollark: It happens still, but they don't know why, and are unable to infer the presence of the antimeme from it.
gollark: This is not really right though. Instead of simulating some ridiculously complex alternate universe without the thing, the human could just be anomalously made to not infer anything from the weirdness caused by the antimeme/not perceive its changes.
gollark: Okay, never mind, I can kind of work it out?
gollark: I don't understand what you're saying here.

References

  1. "Fire and Water, (sculpture)". Art Inventories Catalog-SIRIS. Smithsonian American Art Museum. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  2. Bruce, Gill (11 February 1988). "Neon Sculpture at Fire Station Kindles Controversy". Milwaukee Sentinel.


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