Hi, I really enjoyed reading about your search for the Chrinitoid in the RPI alum magazine. The funny thing is I was in Zurich a couple of summers ago. Wouldn't it have been cool to stumble upon the sculpture and recognize it? Unfortunately I became very ill and had to return home after only one day (spent mostly in bed) in the city. Maybe next time.

Did you know your web site lists the height of our beloved scupture as
35 inches? I think there's a typo!

Regards,
Kathy Opal Goff '78

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Thanks for finding the Chrinitoid! Man, that brought back memories.
Have you found any pictures of the new Rickey structure?

I just mentioned it on my blog tonight.

-marc
RPI '86, Zeta Psi

--
http://www.nozell.com/blog

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Hi Tom:
I enjoyed your essay about your search of the Chrinitoid. I was a professor of physics at RPI from 1955 to 1986, and I still have an office space in the physics department. I am a native of Zurich and visit every year my home town. I also saw George Rickey regularly during his last few years at chamber music concert series held every September near Pittsfield, MA. There he told me about his negotiations with the UBS people after I had asked him where the sculpture was after it was removed from the campus. The next time I went to Zurich I looked at the Chrnitoid as an old acquaintance and since then sometimes make a detour to look at it again. In honesty I find its present place more suitable than the one on campus. However the new Rickey sculpture "Six Random Lines Excentric" is a very fine beautification of the campus.
Many years ago rumor was among the faculty that Rickey wanted $60,000 for the Chrinitoid which the Trustees considered too expensive! There is still another Rickey sculpture on campus, on an outside wall of the Folsom Library, donated by a senior class. By the way, the Schanzengraben is a water filled trench outside the fortified wall, since Zurich being a city had a wall for its protection around it.
I am somewhat surprised that Rickey had Alzheimer; if he had it, certainly not for many years and not very strongly.
I hope that you can visit Zurich and see the Chrinitoid. It is within walking distance from the center of town.
All the best!
Heinrich Medicus

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Tom,

When I read your ONELAST THING... article I was shocked that the sculpture was removed in 1984. Although I graduated from RPI in 1968 I seem to remember the sculpture very well and revelled in gently touching it to watch its great leaves move. I guess I must have seen it while visiting, because I imagined it was in place when I was an undergraduate student. Could it be another kinetic sculpture once stood there or nearby?

I enjoyed your article very much. Its always nice to know that one's own magical icons have the same impact on others.

Charlie de la Motte, Math '68 RPI

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Tom -

My daughter is currently an RPI student (5th yr Arch.) and as I was reading the current issue of Rensselaer magazine, I came across your article regarding the George Rickey sculpture.

I work in downtown Cincinnati and frequently pass the George Rickey sculpture at the PNC Building. I thought this was perhaps your "missing" George Rickey sculpture - but I see it is a variation. In any case, it is a beautiful piece of work - and how neat that it was designed by an RPI Professor of Architecture.

Thanks for the article.

Minette Krietemeyer

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