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Three-dimensional model of the Beale Street Landing
Sculpture. |
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Site renderings of the Beale Street Landing project. |
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Beale Street Landing Sculpture (to be installed in
2012) |
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Overall height in vertical position: 50
feet, centerline of columns: 34 feet wide and 18 feet deep. |
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Evan Lewis's proposal was selected from
a large pool of proposals submitted by professional artists from all over
the country. The sculpture Evan
proposed is a pavilion with a pair of wind-powered elements on top that
provides a point of transition from
Beale Street
into the Beale Street Landing campus. |
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Approaching from
Beale Street
, the sculpture first comes into view as a gateway, inviting visitors to
pass through. Upon entering the Beale Street Landing the work appears as a
pavilion that can be inhabited and experienced from within. After this,
visitors can proceed straight through to the main island, turn South
(left) towards the terminal building or North (right) to the cobblestone
landing.
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The sculpture’s footprint was carefully
conceived to focus and identify this whole transitional process while
maintaining views of the
Mississippi
and the rest of the park. Since the site is a trapezoid, Evan used a
somewhat informal approach and kept the scheme asymmetrical. His goal was
to enhance the existing design of the meandering path cutting diagonally
across the space as it heads down to the terminal building.
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The theme of the sculpture is the
Mississippi
, its majestic beauty and power. Because of the river theme, the design is
very organic in nature. Various elements appear almost grown as opposed to
being a manufactured piece. The sculpture consists of two tripod towers
standing on the concrete columns. The
columns are different heights and have asymmetrical footprints, as
dictated by the site, enhancing the organic nature of the work and
directing the transitional experience of the space. The concrete columns
are embellished with textural details further connecting the sculpture
with its organic theme.
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Over the center of the pavilion is a
cupola that joins the four center columns and supports a directional
wind-powered vane. This element
represents the geometric and conceptual center of the entire work.
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At the tops of the towers are large
kinetic sculptures that turn in the wind.
Each of these kinetic elements consists of seven precisely balanced
components that turn 360 degrees independently of each other. These
sculptures are in almost constant motion as it only requires the slightest
breeze to start the movement. Since
the two kinetic elements are positioned opposite each other, they generate
a visual relationship akin to dance.
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The sculpture will provide multiple
experiences for the visitors. First, as a gateway from Beale Street into
the park; second, as a pavilion and point of transition where the two
primary axes meet and third, as a dynamic visual display of kinetic motion
that can be watched and contemplated from various locations, including the
main island.
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