Dimitri Hadzi (March 21, 1921 – April 16, 2006)[1] was an American abstract sculptor who lived and worked in Rome, Italy for 25 years and later resided in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he also taught at Harvard University for over a decade.
Life
Hadzi was born to Greek-American immigrant parents in Greenwich Village, New York City on March 21, 1921.[2] As a child, he attended a Greek after-school program, where he learned language, mythology, history, and theater. He also won a prize for drawing. After graduating from Brooklyn Technical High School, he worked as a chemist, while continuing his studies in chemistry by night.
In 1942, he signed up for the Army Air Force, serving in the South Pacific region while continuing to draw in his spare time.[3] After his service, he returned to New York to study painting and sculpture at Cooper Union.
This centerpiece sculptural fountain (1983), whose waterfall had been shut off by the time of this 2012 photo, was completely removed by 2014. Its condition and location remain unknown.
Some of Hadzi's public artworks have been removed since his death, as noted above. In addition to the named works, a 60-foot (18 m) high sculptural fountain designed by him was completely demolished and removed circa 2014, despite protests by his widow and other commentators.[11] The artwork was the centerpiece of Boston's Copley Place indoor shopping mall, and was composed of multiple abstract granite and travertine marble shapes, with a waterfall cascading down it into a shallow pool at the bottom, surrounded by marble benches.[11] As of 2022[update], there was scant remaining evidence the fountain had ever existed, and the ownership, location, and status of its components were unknown to the general public.[needs update]
