WP3: Prewrite 4

Superstructure on 4 was created by David Smith (1906-1965) in 1960. Working as a welder and a riveter gave him the metal working experience that would play an important role in his future of welded sculpture that he would pioneer in the United States. After starting his constructions in the early 1930's, Smith took a break during the second world war to work in a defense plant welding tanks and locomotives.

Smith received a background cubism, surrealism, and constructivism from several influential teachers, combining elements of biomorphic figuration and geometric abstraction. Although he defied the traditions of vertical, monolithic sculpture following World War II, working in open-ended horizontal formats, his work had returned to the vertical by the creation of Superstructure on 4. We worked on several sculptural series in the 1950's including works that incorporated scavenged metal parts from old farm machinery and other metal components. In the latter part of the 50's he worked on the series "Setinels", many of which were strongly anthropomorphic and resembled primitive totems recreated in industrial materials.

Superstructure on 4 also follows this, suggesting a totemic personage with its boxy torso and planar appendages sitting atop its 4 stilt-like legs. It is partially a transitional piece as it also contain elements of his later more geometric series "Cubis". Superstructure on 4 was meant to be situated outside; Smith placed it out in his sculpture field to contemplate it through the year. Part of this intentionality comes from the sun's reflections on the swirling patterns on the burnished surfaces to dematerialize the forms.