The Awakening: Statue of a Giant Swallowed Whole by Earth

In 1980, J. Seward Johnson Jr. created "The Awakening," a 100-foot statue of a giant embedded in the ground, as if he was being swallowed by the Earth.

The statue consists of five separate pieces buried in the ground, giving the impression of a panicked giant trying to pull himself to the surface. The left hand and right foot barely protrude, while the bent left leg and knee jut into the air. The 17-foot right arm and hand climb above the observer while the bearded face, with the mouth in mid-scream, struggles to emerge from the surrounding earth.

It was created as a temporary piece, but turned out to be so popular that 27 years later it's still there, though the National Park Service says that its "temporary permit" has long expired.

Link: Gallery at DC Memorials | Wikipedia Entry - Thanks becky!


There is a similar installation in London between City Hall and Tower bridge

I have been trying to find link to news story (September 2007), I only have my own pictures
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Umm... the statue has been promised to another location and they will be moving it. As a DC resident, I want to mention that this statue is just about the corniest bad art we have in public. It's the statue all the junior high tour groups visit where the kids are like, "dude, this is awesome" but even more so, when I've been down there I've seen at least 4 or 5 young interns try to impress out of town girlfriends by saying that "like, you know, you have to be a real DC resident to find out about this statue, you know, this isn't in the guidebooks." Isn't in the guidebooks? This is the one statue every kid goes to that they think is cool that adults can't stand because the art is so crappy!
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