Public Art for New Kansas City, Missouri Vehicle Impound Facility.

My inspiration for this project comes from decades of family’s history in the auto salvage business. These seven kinetic structures are spaced out along the dividing median island near the exit of the facility at Front Street. Seven parking control arm structures have been altered and elevated in height to extend above and out over the street. As an exiting vehicle approaches the median, the arms of the structures will sequentially in a wave-like pattern raise up while the car continues toward the exit. The piece alludes to the rite of passage that is made by everyone journeying away from the impound lot, from the citizen reclaiming their car to the tow operators, police and facility staff.  The salutary movement reflects the tradition of an honor guard that often greeted heads of state as they arrived in another country. The honor guards symbolically mark transitions in physical journeys and in life’s rites of passage. This piece creates a unique interaction between the art, the viewer and their car that activates the art along their journey.