Kirkwood leaders renewed a decade-long commitment to public art with the debut of an iconic sculpture at the entrance of the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center on Nov. 13.
In an evening event that opened the Winter Exhibition, the Kirkwood Arts Commission celebrated the installation of a 10-foot tall stainless steel sculpture positioned at the entrance of Kirkwood Performing Arts Center.
Kirkwood Arts Commission Chair Zoe Perkins said the piece was the unanimous choice of commissioners, who reviewed dozens of alternatives.
“We knew we needed it to be abstract and elegant,” Perkins said. “We wanted something to complement the modern architecture of the building.”
The sculpture is loosely based on the mathematical concept of Borromean rings, comprising three interconnected loops of stainless steel. Titled “Mensch,” meaning a person of integrity and honor, artist Albert Dicruttalo designed the piece to embody the spirit of human connection.
Dicruttalo is a New York native who in 1996 established a studio and foundry in Oakland, California. His work is primarily in metal and takes on a generally modern aesthetic, as typified by “Mensch.”
The Kirkwood Arts Commission was established in 2014 to promote the arts and encourage participation in the arts, and city leaders have leaned into that mission by supporting a wide range of performing and visual arts.
“We just keep building in Kirkwood on the arts,” Mayor Liz Gibbons said. “I think it is a wonderful thing for our citizens and visitors alike.”
The Winter Exhibition at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center features acrylic paintings by John Foster, darkroom photography by Tracey Haynes and digital collage by Charles Williams. The exhibition runs through Feb. 2 and is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4 p.m. or by appointment.
For a calendar of upcoming events at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, visit thekpac.org/events-calendar.