Granite Frieze at Cardoza High
9 01 2008It’s those little architectural details around every corner in this city that can turn every time we go out into an exciting treasure hunt! Many of the greatest details are on government buildings which we have discussed in the past, but the districts public high school are also a virtual cornucopia for the architecturally inclined.
George Julian Zolnay’s allegorical “Academic, Business & Manual Education” Granite Frieze At Francis L. Cardozo High School is a very interesting. The sculpture created the neoclassical figures of the frieze to look like among others, the architect of the building; Snowden Ashford, the architect of the District of Columbia; and Emory M. Wilson, the principal of the school.
Unfortunately, many of the newer buildings being built in the District have forgone these great details for a more modern vanilla look. There is a message being sent when public buildings feature art and details which set them apart!
i fully agree. if you check out the top story of senate square, there are some details ’sculpted’ into what apears to be granite (although i really don’t think it is). it’s not much and it’s modern, but they’re little motifs of stars/stripes and the dc flag.
still, much nicer than many of the other cookie cutter crap that’s going up around town.
yeah. i love details like this.
i create relief sculpture like that in glass, concrete, and fiberglass, if’n you know of a project that might need an artist….
: )