Hammering Man
Seattle
Hammering Man is a huge steel sculpture in front of the Seattle Art Museum. Its arm moves slowly up and down, all day long, without ever stopping.
A flat giant
The sculpture is 14.6 meters tall and is a flat silhouette. It is made of hollow steel, with an aluminum arm moved by an electric motor. It is painted black, like a shadow against the sky.
The artist's idea
In 1979 Jonathan Borofsky built the first model, out of wood, about three meters tall. He dreamed of many giants like it, all over the world. Other steel giants stand in Europe, in Asia and in America.
A gift to the city
The sculpture came from a public art project linked to the new museum. It was paid for partly with public art funds and partly with a private gift. It arrived here for good in 1992.
The museum behind
The museum opened on 1st Avenue on December 5, 1991. It was much bigger than the old building. Inside there is African art, art of the Indigenous Peoples of the Northwest, modern art and photography. The giant stands right in front of the museum's entrance, like a doorman who never gets tired.
