Goldie 1971, Industrial sculpture at Woods Quad, University of Alabama, US.
Goldie 1971 is a large iron sculpture resting on Woods Quad at the University of Alabama, shaped like a robot in a reclined position. The work was created from recycled metal sourced from the industrial facilities that once defined the region.
Created in 2009, the sculpture incorporates materials from an iron foundry that ceased production at the end of the 20th century. This sourcing and the title link the work to the collapse of an entire industrial era.
The sculpture connects visitors to Alabama's industrial past through its materials and form. It reflects the stories of workers who labored in iron furnaces, and whose craft now lives on only in artworks like this.
The sculpture is located in an open campus area and is freely accessible at any time. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes as reaching it involves walking across the grounds.
The name comes from a graffiti word discovered on the original iron foundry. This link between old factory writing and new artform gives the work an unexpected backstory.
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