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Double L

Two Moving L Shapes
(1 of 6) (9441 views)

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Moved to its present location, from the corner of the City Hall Building, when the new library finished construction in 1995. The sculpture is composed of two moving L shapes mounted atop a pillar.


Double L Excentric Gyratory 1982, by George Rickey external link   •  Material: Stainless Steel   •  Southwest Corner of the Main Library external link   •  Civic Center, Larkin Street, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 6 March 2011)   •  (Photo taken 14:53:44 Saturday 5 March 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3600
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L's In Repose
(2 of 6) (5471 views)

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The two L shapes are perfectly balanced and are moved by the slightest breeze. Each rotates around the point where the vertical meets the horizontal. Because the pivots are angled away from each other the L shapes can move into an almost reposed look.


Double L Excentric Gyratory 1982, by George Rickey external link   •  Material: Stainless Steel   •  Southwest Corner of the Main Library external link   •  Civic Center, Larkin Street, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 6 March 2011)   •  (Photo taken 14:53:58 Saturday 5 March 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3602
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Close-up Of The Pivots
(3 of 6) (5468 views)

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The pivots angled out at a Y junction that was reinforced by small web-like add-ons welded into place. Pins anchored with cotter rings held the inner rotating post anchored to the outer Y arms.


Double L Excentric Gyratory 1982, by George Rickey external link   •  Material: Stainless Steel   •  Southwest Corner of the Main Library external link   •  Civic Center, Larkin Street, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 6 March 2011)   •  (Photo taken 14:54:31 Saturday 5 March 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3605
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Concrete Base
(4 of 6) (5469 views)

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The concrete base was embedded into the ground, probably attaching to a larger slab below the grass. A sign on the base described the sculpture


Double L Excentric Gyratory 1982, by George Rickey external link   •  Material: Stainless Steel   •  Southwest Corner of the Main Library external link   •  Civic Center, Larkin Street, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 6 March 2011)   •  (Photo taken 14:55:04 Saturday 5 March 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3607
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City Hall Beyond
(5 of 6) (5458 views)

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Viewed from behind the sculpture, the City Hall Building could be seen. The street passing in front of this building is Larkin Street.


Double L Excentric Gyratory 1982, by George Rickey external link   •  Material: Stainless Steel   •  Southwest Corner of the Main Library external link   •  Civic Center, Larkin Street, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 6 March 2011)   •  (Photo taken 14:56:45 Saturday 5 March 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3608
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Detail Of Arm
(6 of 6) (5468 views)

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A close-up shot of one of the two arms. In it you can see that the metal has taken on a patina of wear.


Double L Excentric Gyratory 1982, by George Rickey external link   •  Material: Stainless Steel   •  Southwest Corner of the Main Library external link   •  Civic Center, Larkin Street, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 6 March 2011)   •  (Photo taken 14:57:10 Saturday 5 March 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3612
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