BEAM

AMERICAN

THE

balance beam

Table of Contents

p6: light beams

balance beam

p10: balance beam

p8: jim beam

p2: in

tro...

balance beamp4: construction beams

balance beam p12: beaming smile

Clermont, KY

Jim Beam

Distillery

Thus, whether individually or as a community, we aspire to “build” our own

version of the American Dream. Such a goal however, can take on just as

many forms as the definition of beam. Let’s explore various meanings of

the word beam through American dreams from all across the country...

As Americans, our freedom,

like a construction beam,

gives us the ability to

reach great heights.

mericancitieswith the

BEAM

Exploring the word beam...

...................................

..................

..............

Los Angeles, CASite of 1984 Olympic Games

2

Aassociated

word

...through the American Dream

........

........

........

........

........

........

...Clermont, KY

Jim Beam

Distillery

Atlanta, GASite of 1996Olympic Games& Julia Robert’s

Birthplace

New York, NY

Empire State,

RCA bldg. & WTC

Tribute

........

........

........

........

........

........

....................................

...........

...................................

........

........

........

........

..Thus, whether individually or as a community, we aspire to “build” our own

version of the American Dream. Such a goal however, can take on just as

many forms as the definition of beam. Let’s explore various meanings of

the word beam through American dreams from all across the country...

cities

BEAM

3

..................

..................

.............

What better place to achieve your

dreams than in New York City? Home

of one of the most famous skylines

in all of America, the Big Apple is all

about climbing the ladder – figura-

tively and literally. With the erection

of such monumental structures as the

Empire State and RCA buildings in

the 1930s, it seemed that New York’s

horizon line had soared beyond limits.

4

construction

Empire state building by Lewis Hine

5

construction

Yet in 1971, the World Trade Center

surpassed these iconic skyscrapers

with an antenna spire reaching 1,727

feet into the air. Although the Septem-

ber 11 attacks broke the beams of the

twin towers, American pride remained

strong. Now, we anxiously await as a

new set of beams come together to

form what is to be the next highest

NYC tower: One World Trade Center.

[noun] : a horizontal

structural element

capable of withstanding

load primarily by

resisting bending.[ ]One World Trade Center

“Lunch atop a Skyscraper” (RCA Building) Photo by Charles Ebbets

Twin Tower of World Trade Center

Empire State Building

Tribute in Light

is an annual art

installation of

eighty-eight

searchlights

6

placed next to

the site of the

World Trade

Center to create

two columns

of light in

remembrance of

the September

11 attacks.

Future 1WTC

LIGHT BEAMS

7

LIGHT BEAMSTribute in Light These ceremonial beams are not

alone in their commemorative

display, however. In addition to the

rays of light is a cross made from a

group of steel beams found intact

amidst the debris of ground zero.

The cross will be on display in the

future 9/11 Memorial Museum

located at the spot of the fallen tow-

ers. Steps away from this museum,

and currently under construction,

is One World Trade Center, which

is estimated to be complete in 2013.

Interestingly, above the building’s

antenna spire, which rises to 1,776

feet, will be an intense beam of light

that will likely be visible over 1,000

feet into the air above the tower.

Shannon Miller silver

Shannon Miller gold

Kathy Johnson bronze

’92

’84

’96

Carly Patterson silver

’08

u . s . a . o l y m p i c

m e d a l s w o n o n

t h e . . .

22

10

’08

Pheobe Mills bronze

’88

Carly Patterson silver

’04

Shawn Johnson gold

’08[ n o u n ]

a g y m a s t i c s

a p p a r a t u s t h a t

m e a s u r e s 1 6 f t

i n l e g n t h

3

BEAMING BEAMING

Say Cheese!

12

BEAMING BEAMING

Actress Julia Roberts

boosts one of the most

beautiful smiles in celebrity

pop culture today. In fact,

most Americans continue to

rank her among the top ten

female smiles year after year.

Why wouldn’t she be

beaming though? With a

faithful husband, three

lovely children, and a net

worth of approximately $140

million, it’s no wonder her

Mona Lisa Smile is as bright

as the Hollywood lights. SMILESMILEOlympic gold

medalist Shawn Johnson

Look Who’s Living the Dream... Jim Beam

owner Fred Noe

13

balance beam

Col

opho

n

balance beam

balance beam

balance beam

· Project 2: Word Meanings Publication

· Designer: Alli Treen

· Course: ARGD 3060 Type and Image

· Professor Spivey - Fall 2011

· Type: Archer and Gotham

balance beam

· Project 2: Word Meanings Publication

· Designer: Alli Treen

· Course: ARGD 3060 Type and Image

· Professor Spivey - Fall 2011

· Type: Archer and Gotham

&designed written by alli treen