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[[Image:James L Acord in front of FFTF, Hanford, WA, USA.png|thumb|right|alt=James L Acord in front of FFTF, Hanford, WA, USA.|James L. Acord in front of the [[Fast Flux Test Facility]], [[Hanford Site]], WA, USA.]]
[[Image:James L Acord in front of FFTF, Hanford, WA, USA.png|thumb|right|alt=James L Acord in front of FFTF, Hanford, WA, USA.|James L. Acord in front of the [[Fast Flux Test Facility]], [[Hanford Site]], WA, USA.]]


'''James Leroy Acord''' (19 October 1944 – 9 January 2011) was an artist who worked directly with [[radioactive]] materials. He attempted to create [[sculpture]] and events that probed the history of [[nuclear engineering]] and asked questions about the long-term storage of [[nuclear waste]]. For 15 years he lived in [[Richland, Washington]], the dormitory town for the [[Hanford Site|Hanford Nuclear Reservation]], at one time home to nine nuclear reactors and five plutonium-processing complexes and the most contaminated nuclear site in the United States. His major ambition while there was to build a "nuclear Stonehenge" on a heavily contaminated area of land in the site, incorporating twelve uranium breeder-blanket assemblies.
'''James Leroy Acord''' (19 October 1944 – 9 January 2011) was an artist who worked directly with [[radioactive]] materials. He attempted to create [[sculpture]] and events that probed the history of [[nuclear engineering]] and asked questions about the long-term storage of [[nuclear waste]]. For 15 years he lived in [[Richland, Washington]], the dormitory town for the [[Hanford Site|Hanford Nuclear Reservation]], at one time home to nine nuclear reactors and five plutonium-processing complexes and the most contaminated nuclear site in the United States. His major ambition while there was to build a "nuclear Stonehenge" on a heavily contaminated area of land in the site, incorporating twelve uranium breeder-blanket assemblies.


Acord was the only private individual in the world licensed to own and handle radioactive materials, and acquired [[nuclear fuel rod]]s containing [[depleted uranium]] from the completed but not operated German [[SNR-300]] breeder reactor to use as artistic materials.<ref>[http://www.ans.org/pubs/magazines/nn/docs/2002-11-3.pdf]</ref> He had his nuclear license number tattooed onto his neck.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2011/05/an-artist-who-had-a-radioactive-imagination.html|title=New Scientist|publisher=|accessdate=20 September 2018}}</ref> He spoke on art and nuclear science at both art<ref>James Acord at [http://theinfluencers.org/en/james-acord "The Influencers"] conference, February 4th, 2010 (Barcelona, Spain)</ref> and nuclear industry events in the US and the UK and organised many forums that brought together artists, activists and nuclear industry experts.
Acord was the only private individual in the world licensed to own and handle radioactive materials, and acquired [[nuclear fuel rod]]s containing [[depleted uranium]] from the completed but not operated German [[SNR-300]] breeder reactor to use as artistic materials.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ans.org/pubs/magazines/nn/docs/2002-11-3.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-02-14 |archive-date=2015-06-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611004729/http://www2.ans.org/pubs/magazines/nn/docs/2002-11-3.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> He had his nuclear license number tattooed onto his neck.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2011/05/an-artist-who-had-a-radioactive-imagination.html|title=New Scientist|publisher=|accessdate=20 September 2018}}</ref> He spoke on art and nuclear science at both art<ref>James Acord at [http://theinfluencers.org/en/james-acord "The Influencers"] conference, February 4th, 2010 (Barcelona, Spain)</ref> and nuclear industry events in the US and the UK and organised many forums that brought together artists, activists and nuclear industry experts.


He was profiled by Philip Schuyler for ''[[The New Yorker]]'' <ref>Schuyler, Philip [http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1991/10/14/1991_10_14_059_TNY_CARDS_000356911 "Moving to Richland I"], ''The New Yorker'', October 14, 1991, accessed January 21, 2011.</ref><ref>Schuyler, Philip [http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1991/10/21/1991_10_21_062_TNY_CARDS_000359576 "Moving to Richland II"], ''The New Yorker'', October 21, 1991, accessed January 21, 2011.</ref><ref>Michaud, Jon [http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1991/10/21/1991_10_21_062_TNY_CARDS_000359576 "Postscript: James Acord, Alchemist for the Nuclear Age"], ''The New Yorker'', January 20, 2011, accessed January 21, 2011.</ref> in 1991, and was the inspiration for the character of Reever in ''The Book of Ash'' <ref>Flint, James. "The Book of Ash". UK, Penguin, 2004, {{ISBN|0-670-91492-4}}</ref> by [[James Flint (British novelist)|James Flint]]. The extensive audio interviews Flint did with Acord in Alaska in 1998 as part of his research for the novel have now been [http://explore.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?tabs=moreTab&ct=display&fn=search&doc=BLLSA7789660&indx=4&recIds=BLLSA7789660&recIdxs=3&elementId=3&renderMode=poppedOut&displayMode=full&frbrVersion=&dscnt=0&vl(488279563UI0)=lsr31&vl(1423900464UI1)=all_items&scp.scps=scope%3A%28BLCONTENT%29&tab=local_tab&dstmp=1460126039636&vl(freeText0)=James%20Acord%20recordings&vid=BLVU1&mode=Basic archived and catalogued] by the [[British Library]].
He was profiled by Philip Schuyler for ''[[The New Yorker]]'' <ref>Schuyler, Philip [http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1991/10/14/1991_10_14_059_TNY_CARDS_000356911 "Moving to Richland I"], ''The New Yorker'', October 14, 1991, accessed January 21, 2011.</ref><ref>Schuyler, Philip [http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1991/10/21/1991_10_21_062_TNY_CARDS_000359576 "Moving to Richland II"], ''The New Yorker'', October 21, 1991, accessed January 21, 2011.</ref><ref>Michaud, Jon [http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1991/10/21/1991_10_21_062_TNY_CARDS_000359576 "Postscript: James Acord, Alchemist for the Nuclear Age"], ''The New Yorker'', January 20, 2011, accessed January 21, 2011.</ref> in 1991, and was the inspiration for the character of Reever in ''The Book of Ash'' <ref>Flint, James. "The Book of Ash". UK, Penguin, 2004, {{ISBN|0-670-91492-4}}</ref> by [[James Flint (British novelist)|James Flint]]. The extensive audio interviews Flint did with Acord in Alaska in 1998 as part of his research for the novel have now been [http://explore.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?tabs=moreTab&ct=display&fn=search&doc=BLLSA7789660&indx=4&recIds=BLLSA7789660&recIdxs=3&elementId=3&renderMode=poppedOut&displayMode=full&frbrVersion=&dscnt=0&vl(488279563UI0)=lsr31&vl(1423900464UI1)=all_items&scp.scps=scope%3A%28BLCONTENT%29&tab=local_tab&dstmp=1460126039636&vl(freeText0)=James%20Acord%20recordings&vid=BLVU1&mode=Basic archived and catalogued] by the [[British Library]].
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From 1998 to 1999 he was Artist in Residence at [[Imperial College London]], a residency set up by arts commissioning organisation [[Arts Catalyst|The Arts Catalyst]], and funded by [[Arts Council England]] and the [[Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation]].
From 1998 to 1999 he was Artist in Residence at [[Imperial College London]], a residency set up by arts commissioning organisation [[Arts Catalyst|The Arts Catalyst]], and funded by [[Arts Council England]] and the [[Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation]].


He committed suicide in Seattle on January 9, 2011 <ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/backissues/2011/01/postscript-james-acord.html|title=Postscript: James Acord, Alchemist for the Nuclear Age|publisher=|accessdate=20 September 2018}}</ref> at the age of 66.<ref name="auto"/>
He committed suicide in Seattle on January 9, 2011 <ref name="auto">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/backissues/2011/01/postscript-james-acord.html|title=Postscript: James Acord, Alchemist for the Nuclear Age|magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |publisher=|accessdate=20 September 2018}}</ref> at the age of 66.<ref name="auto"/>


His sculpture, ''[[Monstrance for a Grey Horse]]'', is installed on the [[Southwestern University]] campus in [[Georgetown, Texas]].
His sculpture, ''[[Monstrance for a Grey Horse]]'', is installed on the [[Southwestern University]] campus in [[Georgetown, Texas]].
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* James L. Acord [https://jamesacord.com/2011/01/14/the-transmutation-of-james-l-acord/ memorial website], compiled by friends of the artist
* James L. Acord [https://jamesacord.com/2011/01/14/the-transmutation-of-james-l-acord/ memorial website], compiled by friends of the artist
* Progressive Alaska [http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2011/01/james-l-acord-passes.html blog post] by Philip Munger
* Progressive Alaska [http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2011/01/james-l-acord-passes.html blog post] by Philip Munger
* Author Fred Moody's description of his obsession with one of Acord's masterworks, [http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20010114&slug=feapsculp14l "The Monstrance and me"], from ''[[The Seattle Times Pacific Northwest Magazine]]'', January 14, 2001
* Author Fred Moody's description of his obsession with one of Acord's masterworks, [https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20010114&slug=feapsculp14l "The Monstrance and me"], from ''[[The Seattle Times Pacific Northwest Magazine]]'', January 14, 2001
* Author [[James Flint (British novelist)|James Flint]]'s 1998 profile of James Acord, [http://www.jamesflint.net/looking-for-acord "Looking for Acord"]
* Author [[James Flint (British novelist)|James Flint]]'s 1998 profile of James Acord, [http://www.jamesflint.net/looking-for-acord "Looking for Acord"]
* Chris Arnot's article for ''[[The Guardian]]'', October 26, 1999, [https://www.theguardian.com/culture/1999/oct/26/artsfeatures "Sculpting with nukes"]
* Chris Arnot's article for ''[[The Guardian]]'', October 26, 1999, [https://www.theguardian.com/culture/1999/oct/26/artsfeatures "Sculpting with nukes"]
* [http://www.ans.org American Nuclear Society]'s Nuclear News Interview, [http://www.ans.org/pubs/magazines/nn/docs/2002-11-3.pdf "James Acord: Atomic Artist"]
* [http://www.ans.org American Nuclear Society]'s Nuclear News Interview, [http://www.ans.org/pubs/magazines/nn/docs/2002-11-3.pdf "James Acord: Atomic Artist"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611004729/http://www2.ans.org/pubs/magazines/nn/docs/2002-11-3.pdf |date=2015-06-11 }}
* Videos of [http://theinfluencers.org/en/james-acord James Acord's lecture] at "The Influencers" conference, February 4th, 2010 (Barcelona, Spain)
* Videos of [http://theinfluencers.org/en/james-acord James Acord's lecture] at "The Influencers" conference, February 4, 2010 (Barcelona, Spain)


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Acord, James}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Acord, James}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:1944 births]]
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[[Category:Nuclear history]]
[[Category:Nuclear history]]
[[Category:20th-century American sculptors]]
[[Category:20th-century American sculptors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male artists]]
[[Category:21st-century American sculptors]]
[[Category:21st-century American sculptors]]
[[Category:21st-century male artists]]
[[Category:21st-century American male artists]]
[[Category:Sculptors who committed suicide]]
[[Category:Artists who died by suicide]]
[[Category:Suicides in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Suicides in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:People from Richland, Washington]]
[[Category:People from Richland, Washington]]

Latest revision as of 03:21, 13 November 2024

James L Acord in front of FFTF, Hanford, WA, USA.
James L. Acord in front of the Fast Flux Test Facility, Hanford Site, WA, USA.

James Leroy Acord (19 October 1944 – 9 January 2011) was an artist who worked directly with radioactive materials. He attempted to create sculpture and events that probed the history of nuclear engineering and asked questions about the long-term storage of nuclear waste. For 15 years he lived in Richland, Washington, the dormitory town for the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, at one time home to nine nuclear reactors and five plutonium-processing complexes and the most contaminated nuclear site in the United States. His major ambition while there was to build a "nuclear Stonehenge" on a heavily contaminated area of land in the site, incorporating twelve uranium breeder-blanket assemblies.

Acord was the only private individual in the world licensed to own and handle radioactive materials, and acquired nuclear fuel rods containing depleted uranium from the completed but not operated German SNR-300 breeder reactor to use as artistic materials.[1] He had his nuclear license number tattooed onto his neck.[2] He spoke on art and nuclear science at both art[3] and nuclear industry events in the US and the UK and organised many forums that brought together artists, activists and nuclear industry experts.

He was profiled by Philip Schuyler for The New Yorker [4][5][6] in 1991, and was the inspiration for the character of Reever in The Book of Ash [7] by James Flint. The extensive audio interviews Flint did with Acord in Alaska in 1998 as part of his research for the novel have now been archived and catalogued by the British Library.

From 1998 to 1999 he was Artist in Residence at Imperial College London, a residency set up by arts commissioning organisation The Arts Catalyst, and funded by Arts Council England and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

He committed suicide in Seattle on January 9, 2011 [8] at the age of 66.[8]

His sculpture, Monstrance for a Grey Horse, is installed on the Southwestern University campus in Georgetown, Texas.

See also

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2012-02-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "New Scientist". Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  3. ^ James Acord at "The Influencers" conference, February 4th, 2010 (Barcelona, Spain)
  4. ^ Schuyler, Philip "Moving to Richland I", The New Yorker, October 14, 1991, accessed January 21, 2011.
  5. ^ Schuyler, Philip "Moving to Richland II", The New Yorker, October 21, 1991, accessed January 21, 2011.
  6. ^ Michaud, Jon "Postscript: James Acord, Alchemist for the Nuclear Age", The New Yorker, January 20, 2011, accessed January 21, 2011.
  7. ^ Flint, James. "The Book of Ash". UK, Penguin, 2004, ISBN 0-670-91492-4
  8. ^ a b "Postscript: James Acord, Alchemist for the Nuclear Age". The New Yorker. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
[edit]
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