Umanita, 1987
Virginio Ferrari
Newberry Library
60 West Walton Street
Umanita
(“humanity” in Italian) was created by Verona-born, Chicago-based sculptor
Virginio Ferrari for the Newberry Library in 1987 and was funded by a private
donation. Originally, it was installed inside the library but was moved
outside, just west of the entrance, in 2005. A six-foot high, 170-pound
circular sculpture crafted from cut, shaped and welded stainless steel, Ferrari
has explained that the opening represents “an opening for more avenues of
culture” and the circle represents a person’s intellect.
In February 2008, the sculpture was torn from its stone
base and removed and has not been recovered. There is some speculation that
high steel prices may have inspired someone to take the sculpture and melt it
down for scrap. Fortunately, in February 2009, Ferrari provided a
slightly-larger replacement, which serves as the model for the Newberry Library
Award, given annually to an individual in recognition of outstanding achievement
in the humanities.
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