Robert Russin

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Robert Isaiah Russin (August 26, 1914 - December 13, 2007) was an American sculptor, artist and University of Wyoming professor. He was best known for a number of public sculptures throughout the United States, including the "Spirit of Life" fountain sculpture located at the City of Hope National Medical Center in California and a giant bust of Abraham Lincoln, located on I-80 in Wyoming.[1]

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[edit] Early life

Robert Russin was born in New York City on August 26, 1914.[1] He received both his bachelor's degree and master's degree from the City College of New York.[1]

[edit] Sculpture

Russin briefly taught at Cooper Union in Manhattan. He accepted a teaching position in 1947 at the University of Wyoming.[1] Russin remained at UW's Department of Art for nearly 40 years and continued to reside in Wyoming for 60 years.[1] He was also the university's artist in residence for nearly 10 years.[1]

Russin was known for his public sculptures. Perhaps his best known work is a massive bronze bust of Abraham Lincoln, called the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Monument, which was originally dedicated in 1959 at the highest point on the Lincoln Highway in Wyoming.[1] Russin's Lincoln bust stands 12 ½ feet high and rests on a 30 foot tall granite pedestal.[1] The bust was later moved to become a centerpiece at a historic museum and park on Interstate 80 between the cities of Cheyenne and Laramie.[1]

Russin was later commissioned to create the "Spirit of Life" fountain at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California, which was officially dedicated in 1967.[1] THe "Spirit of Life", which took Russin a year and a half to create, is cast in bronze.[1] The raised sculpture, which depicts two individuals, rests in three basins made of a type of Italian marble called arabascato.[1] The "Spirit of Life's" outer basin is composed of travertine.[1] Russin also created the name of the sculpture.[1] The City of Hope National Medical Center now uses the silhouette of the sculpture's statue as its official logo and awards the Spirit of Life award to major financial donors.[1]

Russin's other well known pieces include the "Wyoming Crystal", which stands at the Wyoming State Capitol, and the "Chthonodynamis", a granite statue which stands at the United States Department of Energy headquarters in Washington D.C.[1]

Other works by Hussin are currently housed at the Hyde Park Museum, the University of Wyoming, the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland and Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.[1] Known collectors of Russin's include California Senator Diane Feinstein, Bill Cosby and Carl Reiner.[1]

[edit] Death

Robert Russin died in Los Angeles at the age of 93 of kidney disease and hypertension on December 13, 2007.[1] He was survived by his three sons: Joseph Russin, the executive editor of KTLA news; Robin U. Russin, a screenwriting professor at the University of California Riverside; and Lincoln David Russin, a radiologist.[1]

Russin was a resident of Centennial, Wyoming.[1]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Robert Isaiah Russin, 1914 - 2007 Sculptor made fountain at City of Hope", Los Angeles Times, 2007-12-24. Retrieved on 2008-01-10.