Steve Tibbetts, a Western Washington University graduate, created his piece, Scepter, for a school competition on using found objects. He won first place and after graduating sold Scepter to the Associated Students of Western to add to their outdoor sculpture collection. The piece was then erected in Red Square in 1966. Tibbetts formed the piece by welding scraps of metal from car exhausts. That’s the extent of information on why and how the piece was created. Tibbetts passed at the age of 40 in 1983 and left no explanation to his work. The viewer is then encouraged to speculate on his inspiration and thought process. We tried to execute this in a mini documentary. Our documentary provides context to the time period of Scepter’s creation, and gives new possible interpretations and influences of the piece.

Credits:

Script: Olivia Stringfellow

Footage: Catalina Lane

Editing & Narration: Jodie Permen

Music:
Artist: Nicholai Heidlas
Title: “Two Souls”
http://www.hooksounds.com

Photos:

Bridgeman Images. “Roy Lichtenstein with one of his paintings, 1964.” Artist: Lichtenstein, Roy: “What? Why did you ask that? What do you know about my image duplicator?” Sotheby’s. BridgemanImages.com. https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/21-facts-about-roy-lichtenstein

CBS (still image from Twilight Zone Episode 55). “The-Twilight-Zone-Mr-Dingle-the-Strong-3.” Midnite Reviews: Detailed Analysis of Classic Sci-fi Movies and TV Shows. CBS. https://midnitereviews.com/2017/03/the-twilight-zone-episode-55-mr-dingle-the-strong/#more-7647

Getty Images. “The Queen poses with the sceptre and orb after her coronation .” International Business Times. Getty. https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/queen-elizabeth-ii-longest-reign-what-are-imperial-state-crown-orb-sceptre-used-coronation-1518883

Goebel, Mark. “Recycling Center Late 1960s Black White 1970s.” fineartamerica. Published 9, August, 2015. https://fineartamerica.com/featured/-recycling-center-late-1960s-black-white-1970s-mark-goebel.html

Unknown Photographer. Artist: Blake, Peter: “Sources of Pop Art V.” originalprints.com. Lieberman Galley, London, UK. 2014. http://www.originalprints.com/printview.php?dx=3&page=2&id=16260&sid=ca68564eec2f9eb40109150c1df294cc

Unknown Photographer. Artist: Corbett, James: “Space Walking.” Furiamag. http://www.furiamag.com/increibles-esculturas-hechas-con-partes-de-autos-por-james-corbett/

Unknown Photographer. “Holly Street, looking east, ca. 1960.” The Ham: An eclectic history of Bellingham, Washington. Publishing information unavailable. https://hamtopia.wordpress.com/tag/bellingham/page/2/

Sochurek, Howard. “Rev. Martin Luther King, at Atlanta Univ. for SCLC-sponsored student conf.” Huffington Post. Time Life Pictures/Getty Images. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/martin-luther-king-jr-faith_n_3836492.html

Footage:

Beanz2u. “First Moon Landing 1969.” Youtube. YouTube, 10 February 2006. Web. 28 October 2018.

CBS. “Star Trek – Kirk vs. Gorn.” Youtube. YouTube, 6 July 2009. Web. 28 October 2018.

KNKX Public Radio; Seattle Municipal Archives; Historylink.org. “TV commercial promoting the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962.” Youtube. YouTube, 19 April 2012. 28 October 2018.

Lucifer, Sam; cosmocorps2000. “Fashion from the ’60s – Space-Age.” Youtube. YouTube, 8 September 2013. Web. 28 October 2018.

Non-Corporate News. “Martin Luther King, “Why I Am Opposed to the War in Vietnam.” Youtube. YouTube, 11 January 2007. Web. 28 October 2018.
TheKinoLibrary. “Artist Roy Lichtenstein Talks About Pop Art, 1960s London.” Youtube. YouTube, 10 December 2013. Web. 28 October 2018.

TheKinoLibrary. “1960s New York Vietnam protest.” Youtube. YouTube, 8 August 2016. Web. 28 October 2018.
TheKinoLibrary. “1960s / 1970s New York Car Scrapyard, Wrecking Yard, USA Archive Footage.” Youtube. YouTube, 9 June 2014. Web. 28 October 2018.
ThePoultryPeople. “Easy Welding Projects for Beginners – Scorpion from scrap metal.” Youtube. YouTube, 11 August 2016. Web. 28 October 2018.