Update

The Standing Committee on Public Art met to review the artist's design proposals on July 26, 2022. The group made recommendations to revisit Design 1 with a few alterations. This updated design was presented back to the Standing Committee on Public Art on Oct. 12, 2022 and then to the Commission on Cultural Affairs on Oct. 18, 2022. The Commission recommended the design be moved forward to City Council, which held a public hearing on Dec. 5, 2022. City Council approved the recommended design.

The artist is now in the process of fabrication of the design, to be installed at the Fire Station No. 11 at a later date once the building is nearing completion.

We want to thank everyone who provided feedback on this page or at the public meeting. Your input played an integral role is process.

The Commission on Cultural Affairs and its Standing Committee on Public Art are seeking public input on site-specific designs proposed for artwork at the new Fire Station No.11. The project is being undertaken as part of the City’s Percent for Art Program.

Public input will play an important role in the Standing Committee on Public Art’s recommendation to the Commission on Cultural Affairs before being forwarded to the City Council for final approval. Those interested in providing input were encouraged to review the designs and leave feedback in the form below.

COMMENT SECTION CLOSED WEDNESDAY, JULY 20.

After an application process that was open to Missouri artists, artist Tyler Kimball of Monarch Glass Studio (Kansas City, MO) was selected as the artist for this project. He has submitted three designs for consideration, with one to be recommended by the Standing Committee on Public Art to move forward with the project. The artist has spent time getting familiar with the design of the new fire station to understand the new space and areas around the building best suited for artwork.

Questions? Please contact the Office of Cultural Affairs at OCA@CoMo.gov.

The Standing Committee on Public Art is meeting at City Hall Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 3 p.m. to discuss the project and resident feedback. The public is invited to attend.

Design 1: Casting Light

This is a take on water falling over fire. The long blue rectangular glass represents the water and the orange/yellow triangles represent fire. The conceptual piece puts the beauty of glass in the forefront and the symbolism as a secondary thought.

The slabs are made from furnace pulled rods that are fused together in a kiln to create 1-foot thick slabs of glass with multiple stripes of color. The glass slabs are locked into a steel frame system that exhibits the glass moving from the wall of the building to a concrete slab that I will pour. The slab is two foot in diameter and rises 6 feet out of the earth. Electrical comes through the wall to this piece through the connection at the wall. The electrical activates LED lighting in the edge of the glass slabs within the steel framing. It illuminates on a timer as the evening sets in and then turns off as dawn arises. Throughout the day, sunshine creates secondary splashes of color along the wall, on the concrete slab, and elsewhere as light passes through the glass and onto the surfaces around it.

The slabs are locked in using tamper-proof hardware. The glass is sturdy enough to withstand light occurrences of vandalism and almost any occurrence of heavy weather.

Design 2: Dousing

This installation would have four electrical connections. The cauldrons, full of glass flames, would light in the evening and so would the cooling, light blue water coming out of the brass fire-hose nozzles. The furnace sculpted glass would have a very flowing feel from the tip of the nozzle to the base of the cauldron.

These pieces are fully attached to the exterior brick wall. The glass flames and water are connected and cold attached so that they cannot be disturbed by someone trying to move the glass around.

The glass is set into the cauldron and brass nozzle using a 50-year silicone. The lighting hardware and bulbs will be accessible without disturbing the set glass.

Design 3: Splash

This piece freezes water in time. The furnace glass will be sculpted free-hand to act as water flowing from a large brass downspout attached to the exterior wall. The watery glass will flow down to a concrete pad set three feet away from the exterior wall where a big glass splash will bring awe and wonder to all who gaze upon it. The concrete pad will be set a couple feet off of the ground to deter feet from kicking it or lawn-care equipment from coming into contact with it. Electrical will need to be supplied to the area where the pad will be poured and at the attachment of the brass downspout. Light will pour out of the brass down-spout and upward from the concrete pad.

The glass itself will be very light blue to convey the cool calm of water.

It's simple and beautiful. Water is life.