The Continuity of Life Forms

The Continuity of Life Forms is a mosaic by Willard Martin, installed at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Oregon.

The Continuity of Life Forms
The mosaic in 2017
ArtistWillard Martin
Year1959 (1959)
TypeMosaic
Dimensions4.6 m × 18 m (15 ft × 60 ft)
LocationOregon Zoo, Portland, Oregon, United States

Description and history

The Continuity of Life Forms is a large mid-century modern mosaic and one of the earliest remaining works by local architect and artist Willard "Will" Martin, who also designed Pioneer Courthouse Square.[1][2] It is made of 20 panels and measures approximately 15 feet (4.6 m) tall and 60 feet (18 m) wide.[1] The work has been installed in two locations at the Oregon Zoo. According to the organization, The Continuity of Life Forms "[captures] a panoramic sense of history and being — the forces of life — out of footprints, seeds, leaves, shells, fossils and primitive life forms that might be found in the Earth's strata".[1]

The mosaic was originally installed at the zoo's entrance in 1959, when the zoo moved to its current location.[1][2] In 1997, the zoo's entrance was relocated, and the mosaic became less visible, obstructed by a fence and out of the way for visitor access.[1] In 2014, during construction of the zoo's conservation education center, the mosaic was removed and placed into storage.[1] During its 2014–2015 fiscal year, the Oregon Cultural Trust granted $20,000 to the Oregon Zoo Foundation for the mosaic's conservation and restoration.[1][2] The funds allowed the Oregon Zoo Foundation to hire an art conservator and restoration artist to "ensure the accurate restoration and conservation of this splendid artwork for future generations".[2] Additional funding was provided by the Oregon Zoo Foundation's Education Campaign, which raised more than $1.5 million for the center and educational programming.[1]

The Continuity of Life Forms was re-installed at the conservation education center's entrance, near the zoo's former main entrance, in July 2016.[1] One of the zoo's project managers said of the mosaic's current location, "We want the zoo to serve as a gateway experience to what may become a deeper relationship with the natural world. So bringing 'The Continuity of Life Forms' back at this same location is ideal."[1] The organization hopes the re-installation will introduce another generation to the artwork and Martin, who died in a plane crash in 1985.[1]

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See also

References
  1. "Iconic Portland artworks gets a second life at zoo". Oregon Zoo. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  2. "2014–15 grants to coalitions, partners and organizations total $1,808,796; $602,932 awarded to each of three grant categories". Oregon Cultural Trust. Retrieved August 17, 2016.

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