Southwest 6th Avenue and Stark
Portland, OR
Titled Talos Number 2 this bronze sculpture is by James Lee Hanson.
“Talos No. 2 is part of the Portland Transit Mall. It was completed during 1959–1977, and was funded by TriMet and the United States Department of Transportation. The abstract sculpture depicts Talos, the giant man of bronze in Greek mythology who protected Crete from invaders. The piece is 7 feet tall and is administered by the Regional Arts & Culture Council, which offers the following description of Talos and the sculpture he inspired:
“He had one vain running from his neck to his ankle which flowed with lead, a sacred fluid believed to be the blood of the gods. This sculpture transforms the mythic figure into an abstracted form. Rather than mimicking the monumentality of the character, Kelly invokes him though this vaguely human but altogether otherworldly creature that seems to take in its surroundings from three directions at once, acting as a guardian to those who pass by”
James Lee Hansen was born in 1925 and graduated from the Portland Art Museum School in 1950. He has spent a great time of his adult life as a teacher of Sculpture:
1964-1990 Professor in Sculpture, Portland State University, Portland, OR
1967 Instructor in Sculpture, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
1958-196 Fine Arts Collaborative, architectural art and art in public places
1958 Instructor in Sculpture, University of California, Berkeley
1957-1958 Instructor in Sculpture, Oregon State University, Corvallis