Glass Labyrinth, created by acclaimed artist and Kansas City native Robert Morris, is the latest permanent addition to the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park. The 400-ton sculpture is an equilateral triangle with 50-foot-long sides and seven-foot-tall glass walls above a bluestone floor. The installation of Glass Labyrinth in May 2014 marked the start of a six-month long celebration of the 25th anniversary of the sculpture park.
“The idea of a labyrinth as a place in which we lose ourselves in order to find ourselves is intriguing,” said Antonia Boström, former Director, NAMA Curatorial Affairs. “This sculpture encompasses many things: engagement, participation, a spirit of theatricality, and also pushes boundaries between an art object and personal experience.”
While the Glass Labyrinth is a deceptively simple structure, its creation required a large team and much ingenuity to see its realization. Construction began in fall 2013, under the leadership of Steve Waterman, Nelson-Atkins Director, Presentation, and in collaboration with Erich Blohm Design, engineer for Robert Morris. Local firms involved in the design and construction include Structural Engineering Associates, BNIM, PLAID collaborative, McCownGordon, Carter Glass, Carthage Stoneworks and Shelton & Sons. PLAID provided input on site selection/sculpture orientation, pedestrian access and circulation, materials selection, site grading and drainage, and planting design.
Photo by Josh Ferdinand
Photo by Josh Ferdinand
Photo by Josh Ferdinand