Prairie Tussocks, by Tim Adams
A fresh batch of Rotating Sculpture Program pieces have landed in Liberty! Slip on those walking shoes and head downtown to check out the latest and greatest. Let’s dive into the lineup for the 2024-2025 season:
Prairie Tussocks
Starting the tour off strong, our first stop is at Prairie Tussocks, by Tim Adams from Monument, CO. Since Adams was a Registered Landscape Architect, natural landforms and native plants are a huge influence on his sculpture concepts. He aims to foster sustainability and does his best to incorporate recycled metals and repurposed materials when he can. Located on Missouri Street in front of the Liberty Police Department’s entrance, this statue is made out of stainless steel and Lexan.
Whoa Buddy
Whoa Buddy! This accurately named sculpture sure catches the eye at our second stop standing at a whopping 11 feet tall! Located just south of City Hall on Missouri Street, artist Michael Young from Springfield, MO crafted this giant sculpture from steel. Young encourages spectators to interact with this piece, so make sure to snap a picture with this wild stallion!
Red Queen
Moving your way around City Hall, you’ll find the third stop located on the green space on the west side of City Hall. Red Queen was created by Russell Whiting from Breaux Bridge, LA and is a striking sculpture that commands attention with its intricate design and imposing presence. Crafted from steel, the piece reflects Whiting’s unique ability to transform industrial materials into art that feels both timeless and modern.
Through
The last new addition to the City Hall area is Through, by Ben Pierce. Using a minimalist approach, Pierce enjoys leaving space in his creations for viewers to think about what the sculpture means to them. This piece has been placed on the pad in front of City Hall.
Twist in Time
Twist in Time, by James Haire, is a bronze sculpture that works to capture the human spirit. Located on the SE corner of Kansas and Main Streets, this piece shows a child in a twisted swing, bringing a wave of nostalgia to viewers.
Universal Inseparability
Right across the street, stationed at the NE corner of Kansas and Main Streets, Universal Inseparability is another pensive piece involving negative space. Created by Ben Pierce this sculpture invites spectators to come to their own conclusions about what this piece means and what it is to them.
Beach Ball
Head west on Kansas to find our next sculpture – Beach Ball! Positioned on the corner of Kansas and Prairie Streets, Howard Russo created this piece due to his interest in the balance between positive and negative space. His goal is to give viewers the ability to interpret the piece how they see it. Installed with a solar light, this sculpture also allows individuals to get a different perspective at night!
World of Butterflies
A repeat Rotating Sculpture Program participant, Kirk Seese has installed another bright and beautiful sculpture – World of Butterflies. Standing at 14’ tall, this piece located at the corner of Franklin and Main Streets is hard to miss!
Embracing Empathy
The towering ‘Embracing Empathy’ by Jodie Bliss is more than a piece of art – it’s a 12-foot symbol of expression located on North Main Street! This piece was the first of 2024 – 2025 Rotating Sculpture Program pieces to be installed in early 2024.
Colors of Life
Step up to Hasna Sal’s Colors of Life sculpture at the corner of Franklin and Water Streets as she works to depict community engagement and socio-cultural inclusion. These colorful vignettes of painted glass are focused on stories of love, joy, hope, sorrow and discovery.
Blast off
Based off his interest in the nuclear disarmament in the 80s, Howard Russo has incorporated rockets in this work throughout the years. Made out of welded steel Russo also provides a solar light for viewers to view a completely new perspective at night. This piece is located on Franklin Street near the Clay County Archives.
Serpentine Insect Hostel
The last sculpture in our roundup is Serpentine Insect Hostel by Tim Adams. This intricate curved statue perfectly captures the natural greens and browns seen in nature. Made from weathered stainless steel, Adams strives to make his work inclusive and accessible to all. Make sure to stop by this piece at the corner of Leonard and Kansas Streets to get the full effect of this beautiful sculpture!
You can find a map of the exhibit on the Otocast app or on the Otocast webpage . The app also features more information about each piece with an audio description from the artist. You can vote for your favorite piece in the app!
Whether you’re taking a leisurely walk around downtown or taking a self-guided tour using the Otocast app, this is a great way to soak up a beautiful afternoon! For more information about the Rotating Sculpture Program visit the Liberty Arts Commission webpage.
