Sculpture: A 'Memorial' to a Tornado

Abstract

The largest sculpture I have made (earlier, smaller ones I have discussed in Ref. 1) is called 'Patrick', after my son. Its height is 6.9 m and its weight is about 5000 kg (Fig. 1, cf. color plate). Three sloping legs support a central chaotic arrangement that is surmounted by six vertical shafts-all the elements are parts of structural steel Ibeams. The sculpture was first assembled in my studio at the University of Nebraska for installation at a site in Pipal Park, a public park in the city of Omaha. Pipal Park was one of the areas struck by one of the most destructive tornados in the history of the U.S.A. It devastated parts of Omaha on 5 May 1976. The views of huge bent I-beams of the shattered buildings gave me the idea to construct a 'memorial' to the tornado made from some of these I-beams. By the time I obtained permission to install the proposed sculpture on the site, a salvage company had transported the damaged I-beams to a steel yard at nearby Council Bluffs, Iowa. The company kindly agreed to donate the beams I wanted and to haul them to my studio. I collected for the project a sum of about $1000 from private and public organizations; the largest amounts were contributed by the University of Nebraska-Omaha Research Fund and the Nebraska Arts Council. It was necessary for me to spend about $500 of my own money before the project was completed. The largest expense I incurred was for the purchase of a one-ton electric hoist,