Public Art - Springfield, Missouri
Forces of Nature: Blue Skies, Slinkys, and Hurricanes, ongoing series 2020-present
Media: steel, blue PEX tubing, metal hardware, and mulch
Inspired by diagrams of hurricane development and the spring movement of the “wonderful toy” Slinky, these playful sculptures feature circular forms that appear to be large Slinkys connected at the ends into rings. Reminiscent of inner tubes easing down a lazy river or bean bags gathered in a living room, the works function as unusual benches with calm grassy centers at the eye of each storm.
The sculptures are made from blue PEX tubing, a material commonly used to carry water to faucets. Usually hidden behind walls or beneath floors, PEX quietly performs its task and often only becomes visible or considered when something goes wrong. Bringing this material into public view connects the work to my ongoing interest in familiar, functional, and overlooked materials, especially those that carry memory, labor, infrastructure, and care.
As benches, the works invite rest, play, and gathering while also pointing to larger systems of movement, circulation, weather, and water. Their looping forms balance humor and utility with a deeper attention to the materials and structures that support everyday life.
About Sculpture Walk Springfield
A museum without walls with access to all is our vision. Our mission is “to encourage the artistic transformation of Springfield through outdoor sculpture, thus enhancing our quality of life and promoting economic vitality.” Public art has proven itself to play a major role in rejuvenating public spaces and local economies in places as diverse as Chicago, Illinois and Asheville, North Carolina. Sculpture Walk Springfield is an initiative aimed at creating such a museum, by displaying quality sculptures in public places in Springfield on an annually rotating schedule. Each collection of sculptures will be in place from April to March of the next year.