{{short description|Sculptures of a large eye}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{infobox artwork | title = ''Eye'' | image = Eye sculpture Dallas.jpg | caption = ''Eye'' in Dallas in 2014 | artist = [[Tony Tasset]] | completion_date = 2007 | medium = [[Fiberglass]], [[resin]], [[steel]], [[oil paint]] | movement = [[Pop art]] | subject = A human [[eye]] | diameter = | designation = | city = [[St. Louis]], Missouri | coordinates = {{Coord|38.54972|-90.41511|region:US-MO_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = USA Missouri#USA | owner = [[Laumeier Sculpture Park]] | module = <div style="font-weight:normal">{{Location map|float=center|border=infobox|USA Texas#DFW|label=''Eye''|caption=Second sculpture in Dallas<br>{{coord|32.78140148990698|-96.79831055889615|format=dms}}|coord={{coord|32.78140148990698|-96.79831055889615}}}}</div> }}
'''''Eye''''' is the title of two sculptures by American artist [[Tony Tasset]]. They are large [[eye]]s with blue [[iris (anatomy)|irises]] and made of [[fiberglass]], [[resin]], and [[steel]] detailed with [[oil paint]].<ref name="laumeier">{{cite web |url=https://www.laumeiersculpturepark.org/tony-tasset-2007 |title=Tony Tasset (2007) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= |publisher=[[Laumeier Sculpture Park]] |access-date=7 April 2024 |archive-date=April 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408042708/https://www.laumeiersculpturepark.org/tony-tasset-2007 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="a&s">{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Miguel |date=2021-03-18 |title=Why Is There A Giant Eyeball In Downtown Dallas? We Take a Look. |url=https://artandseek.org/2021/03/18/why-is-there-a-giant-eyeball-in-downtown-dallas-we-take-a-look/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Art&Seek |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908044624/https://artandseek.org/2021/03/18/why-is-there-a-giant-eyeball-in-downtown-dallas-we-take-a-look/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The first was made in 2007 with a diameter of {{convert|12|ft|m}} and is located in [[Laumeier Sculpture Park]] in [[St. Louis]], Missouri.<ref name="laumeier" /> The second was made in 2010 at a diameter of {{convert|30|ft|m}} and currently resides in [[Dallas]], Texas on grounds owned by [[The Joule Hotel]].<ref name="joule" />
==History== The sculptures were created by [[Tony Tasset]] and are a replica of his own eye.<ref name="a&s"/><ref name="fast">{{Cite web |last=Brownlee |first=John |date=2013-12-02 |title=There Is A 30-Foot-Tall Eyeball In Downtown Dallas |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3022295/there-is-a-30-foot-tall-eyeball-in-downtown-dallas |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=[[Fast Company]] |archive-date=2023-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908101224/https://www.fastcompany.com/3022295/there-is-a-30-foot-tall-eyeball-in-downtown-dallas |url-status=live }}</ref> He says that there is no deep meaning behind the eye and that he wanted to create something that would be recognizable to many people.<ref name="d">{{Cite web |last=Simek |first=Peter |date=2013-11-08 |title=Why Tony Tasset Insists His Giant Downtown Eye Is Meaningless: Interview Magazine Talks About 'Dallas Eye' |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2013/11/why-tony-tasset-insists-his-giant-downtown-eye-is-meaningless-interview-magazine-talks-about-dallas-eye/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=[[D Magazine]] |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908043126/https://www.dmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2013/11/why-tony-tasset-insists-his-giant-downtown-eye-is-meaningless-interview-magazine-talks-about-dallas-eye/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The first instance of the piece became a permanent fixture of Laumeier Sculpture Park following a solo exhibition of Tasset's work at Laumeier in 2007.<ref name="laumeier" /> The later, much larger version was commissioned by the Chicago Loop Alliance and displayed in [[Chicago]]'s [[Jay Pritzker Pavilion]] in 2010, and appeared at Laumeier Sculpture Park in 2011. In 2013 it was moved to Dallas after it was bought by The Joule Hotel for its art collection, taking about a week and a half to construct.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kavigupta.com/artists/25-tony-tasset/works/6882-tony-tasset-eye-2010/ |title=Tony Tasset, Eye, 2010 |last=Gupta |first=Kavi |date= |website= |publisher=Kavi Gupta Gallery |access-date=7 April 2024 |archive-date=April 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408042708/https://kavigupta.com/artists/25-tony-tasset/works/6882-tony-tasset-eye-2010/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="joule" /><ref name="paul">{{Cite web |last=William |first=Paul |date=2022-11-10 |title=The Giant Eyeball in Dallas: A History of the Big Blue Eye |url=https://planetofthepaul.com/giant-eyeball-dallas-big-eye/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Planet of the Paul |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908043136/https://planetofthepaul.com/giant-eyeball-dallas-big-eye/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="observer">{{Cite web |last=Laughlin |first=Jamie |date=2013-08-09 |title=This Giant Eyeball Sculpture Arrives in Dallas Today, and Boy is it Freaky Lookin' |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/this-giant-eyeball-sculpture-arrives-in-dallas-today-and-boy-is-it-freaky-lookin-7088546 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=[[Dallas Observer]] |language=en |archive-date=2023-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908043127/https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/this-giant-eyeball-sculpture-arrives-in-dallas-today-and-boy-is-it-freaky-lookin-7088546 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since then, it has been used as a centerpiece for private events and is the site of the Dallas Art Fair's ending party, The Eye Ball.<ref name="joule">{{Cite web |title=The Eye at The Joule Hotel in Downtown Dallas |url=https://www.thejouledallas.com/the-hotel/art-preservation/the-eye |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=The Joule at Dallas |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908043122/https://www.thejouledallas.com/the-hotel/art-preservation/the-eye |url-status=live }}</ref> Its weight is {{convert|18000|lbs|kg}}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-04 |title=There's a Giant, Unblinking Eyeball in Downtown Dallas {{!}} Ripley's Believe It or Not! {{!}} Aquariums, Attractions, Museums |url=https://www.ripleys.com/stories/giant-unblinking-eyeball |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.ripleys.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/eye-sculpture ''Eye'' on Atlas Obscura] *[https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/25819 ''Eye'' on Roadside America]
[[Category:2013 establishments in Texas]] [[Category:2007 sculptures]] [[Category:Public art in Dallas]] [[Category:2010s sculptures]]