A shining new addition to the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science’s front entrance is catching eyes from the road and the riverfront. The 10-foot-tall stainless-steel sculpture titled “Stargazer” was created by Santa Fe, New Mexico-based sculptor Gino Miles and is inspired by his “knots” series, which was also on display inside the Museum’s foyer from October 2021 to Jan. 1, 2022.
The museum’s John W. Streetman executive director Mary McNamee Bower says the museum has a long history with Miles and immediately thought of him for the commissioned piece after a large donation from Judge Frank M. and Alma Marie Fish in spring 2021.
“It works well with the materials of the building; kind of the form of it mirrors the roundness of the dome. We thought of Gino and his work and thought that this would be just a great fit for the museum,” says Bower. “We’re very, very grateful to the Fish family for that very generous bequest that allowed us to purchase the work.”
Miles’ nature-inspired forms stand out when contrasted with the straight lines of a gallery wall, but the Colorado native creates his works with two additional elements. Each sculpture is fabricated, not cast, meaning each piece of metal is shaped individually and then welded together. Miles also emphasizes interaction; smaller pieces rotate when touched or can be stacked to create different levels.
“(‘Stargazer’) is so large, you can walk up to it and walk up in it, practically into the form,” says Bower. “(Miles) wants people to interact so you can see it from all angles.”
Outdoor Art
emuseum.org
