Client: City of Columbus, Ohio
Location: Columbus, Ohio, OH, United States
Completion date: 2021
Artwork budget: $450,000
Project Team
Artist
Mark Reigelman
Project Coordinator
Lori Baudro
City of Columbus
Curator/Project Management
Amanda Golden
Designing Local
Artist and Public Art Curator
Marc Pally
Marc Pally
Fabricator
Tom Bollinger
Bollinger Atelier
Construction Coordinator
Rick Martine
Setterlin Building Company
Structural Enginnner
Alex Nefedov
Laufs Engineering Design
Illumination
Lindsay Stefans
Francis Krahe & Associates
Writer
Cleo Abramin
Gallery Owner
Michele Brandt
Brandt Roberts Gallery
Photographer
Abby Kamagate
Videographer
Aaron Blevins
Overview
From the region’s indigenous earthworks dating back thousands of years to the sprawling network of navigable canals and railroads developed throughout the 19th century, Columbus’ tradition of making and manufacturing is embedded within the city’s historical and topographical memory. At the height of the Industrial Revolution, Columbus was flecked with hundreds of shops and facilities producing everything from toothpicks to locomotives. Situated within this manufacturing epicenter, THE MAKERS MONUMENT memorializes High Street’s position as a maker hub and celebrates the region’s ever-evolving landscape.
Extending from the earth in a tectonic fragment, the outstretched crystals nod to the region’s many accumulated deposits. Its lace-like surface, an assembly of interlocking cutouts ranging from rocking horses to axes to whistles, diagrams the vast collection of items made within the city limits. Light seeps through its perforated silhouette in varying patterns that shift throughout the day, recalling the city’s production history while reflecting the vibrant activity along High Street. THE MAKERS MONUMENT invites viewers to investigate its steel latticework, considering the puzzle of objects that influenced the region’s handcrafted lineage and its current practices of making.
Goals
From its inception, The Makers Monument was meant to be a signature artwork in the landscape. It was intended to celebrate the dynamic location, at the confluence of the Short North neighborhood and the southern University District and inspire togetherness. Since the Artwork focuses on High Street’s maker history the artwork highlights the regions unique maker culture while acting as a transformative element in the streetscape. Boldness was a key element in the design of the Maker Monument however it was essential for the monumental work to still feel grounded and integrated into the site. The strong angular form protruding spectacularly from the ground and over the walkway is intentionally jarring but simultaneously the perforated structural façade and subtly reflective surface allows the artwork to feel connected to the surrounding environment. The Makers Monument makes a bold statement about the richness of Columbus maker culture but also feels tailored and connected to the streetscape.
Process
The process and collaborative effort required for this project was incredibly complex. An incredible team of specialized individuals was assembled for the successful implementation of The Makers Monument ranging from Lighting Designers, Landscape Architects, Structural Engineers to Contractors, Historians and Fabricators.
The fabrication process was intense! The pattern that creates the structural skin of the artwork was created over many months with the assistance of a team of Computational Designers. Together the Artist and Designer developed a series of algorithms that allowed them to disperse the various object silhouettes across the complex geometric surface evenly, randomly, and with a specific amount of overlap. All of which ensured a structural surface was maintained since the Artist didn't want anything on the artwork’s interior to interfere with the passage of light through the perforated surface. From there, the digital model was broken up into hundreds of individual digital faces that were laser-cut and bent to shape in the final artwork material, stainless steel. These stainless-steel parts were then meticulously assembled over many months, with each artwork part welded to the adjacent facet until the final 20’ tall and 7,000 lb. sculpture was complete.
Additional Information
From its inception, The Makers Monument was meant to be a signature artwork in the landscape. It was intended to celebrate the dynamic location, at the confluence of the Short North neighborhood and the southern University District and inspire togetherness. Since the Artwork focuses on High Street’s maker history the artwork highlights the regions unique maker culture while acting as a transformative element in the streetscape. Boldness was a key element in the design of the Maker Monument however it was essential for the monumental work to still feel grounded and integrated into the site. The strong angular form protruding spectacularly from the ground and over the walkway is intentionally jarring but simultaneously the perforated structural façade and subtly reflective surface allows the artwork to feel connected to the surrounding environment. The Makers Monument makes a bold statement about the richness of Columbus maker culture but also feels tailored and connected to the streetscape.