Via Vitrum
Glass City Center, Toledo Ohio
Installed March 2024
Commissioned by The Arts Commission of Toledo
Inspired by both the physical landscape and the history of the area, this
sculpture flows along the corridor wall of the Summit Street Concourse. The
meandering form is composed of multiple shapes that travel through the
space, reflecting light and color with its leisurely, kinetic motion.
Translucent discs hang at varying heights from nearly invisible braided steel cables,
supported by the artful steel structure fabricated by Knoxville, TN-based artist
Karly Stribling, owner of Soil & Steel. The molecular structure of glass (SiO2)
becomes a decorative pattern when screen-printed into the polycarbonate discs,
creating an additional layer of texture on the surface.
As the viewer follows along the corridor, they will notice that the shapes
subtly evolve from hard-angle pentagons to more rounded polygons. This
progression is a nod to the industrial history of Toledo, as well as a look
forward to the future of technology coming out of the Glass City.
The movement of the form undulates like water carving through stone.
With the view of this sculpture facing the Maumee River, there is a strong
connection between the interior space of the Glass City Center and
surrounding Lucas County. The Glass City Center is seen as a convergence
of ideas from all over the world, sparking innovation that has impacts
beyond the urban core.
Thanks to Marge and Dave for installation work!
All steel work was artfully done by Karly Stribling of Soil and Steel.