The Woven Path welcomes citizens of Lexington as a poignant symbol of unity and connection, inviting viewers to contemplate what binds us together as members of a community. It is a lacework of dynamic curves crafted from strings of mirror-polished stainless-steel spheres and supported by an array of thin wire ropes that form an abstract geometric composition.
Passages can be powerful symbols of transition and connection, reminiscent of the iconic Gateway Arch in St. Louis or the Gateway of India in Mumbai. This sculpture is an open passageway that invites viewers to traverse the space beneath it. It stands as a monument framed by the sky. At the heart of The Woven Path is a motif of interlacing lines. Like intersecting pathways or roads, these represent the diverse journeys and shared experiences of people of all walks of life who use Main Street each day by car, bike, or on foot. Like knotted threads of a tapestry converging and diverging, they represent a weaving together of cultures and aspirations of those who pass beneath.
While some citizens of Lexington will see the pathways and weaving that are described above, it is not my aim to firmly fix the meaning of the project for the viewer but to allow each to compose their own narrative. Some may see roadways and fences rolling over Kentucky hills. What is important to me is that the work is a playground for the mind, a place for each person who encounters the work to engage their imagination and momentarily escape the hustle and bustle of city life.
The material of the artwork contributes to its enigma by inviting the participation of the viewer. As viewers walk beneath it, their own reflections greet them, dancing across the shining surfaces of the spheres. Each sphere acts as an anamorphic mirror that captures and reflects the space of Main Street. The reflections serve as another poignant reminder of our interconnectedness, inviting viewers to see themselves and others in the artwork itself. Through its form and evocative symbolism, The Woven Path celebrates the diverse tapestry of the Lexington community.
Thin cables individually suspend each sphere from three poles extending above the curves. In aggregate, the cables give a sense of lightness, delicacy, and ascent. This technique relates to another sculpture titled Cradle (see images in the proposal deck) from 2010. A Newton's cradle, the inspiration for the piece, is a device that demonstrates conservation of momentum and energy using a series of swinging spheres and is named after Sir Isaac Newton. Installed in Santa Monica, California, Cradle is made of durable 316 mirrored stainless steel that has withstood years of salty coastal air and harsh sunshine. It requires little maintenance yet remains in beautiful condition today.
The Woven Path invites viewers to take a journey of introspection and connection with fellow citizens. It reminds us of the importance of embracing our differences and celebrating our shared humanity. Its curved threads embrace the people below it. Each citizen is reflected, bound to their neighbor, person to person, woven together, one weave at a time.
To bid on this project, I utilized the site photos and the Rhino file of the artwork we intended to install. Given the tight 10-day timeframe, I opted to render the artwork separately and then integrate it into the existing photos using Photoshop, rather than building the entire context for rendering. For the video animations, however, I created a full context scene.
VIDEOS
The design installation is scheduled for completion by January 2026.
