This sculpture is the work of artist Jordan Baker-Caldwell, who made the piece in 2016. It is made of weathered steel and stands about 9 feet tall. It is the property of Hell's Kitchen/Hudson Yards Alliance and is the first permanent sculpture in Midtown Manhattan to be made by an African American. It was placed in the area after a successful Kickstarter program.
This piece is part of 4-part series of similar pieces that fall under what is called the ascension series.
The piece is intended to challenge viewer's sense of spatial awareness by the precarious way the piece rest the odd angle it is sitting. Furthermore, the piece attempts to create a quiet moment of contemplation in the wild hustle and bustle of the city. The cool part of the mural is that part of it looks freestanding and suspended.
The sculpture is placed in a less than optimal spot, tuck away in a small grass area off the 495 on-ramp. It is somewhat hidden among some shrubbery and blends into its surrounding. The piece is whether weathered and shows severe signs of being exposed to the elements. This sculpture is well traveled, and I really hope that they are able to find it a new location.
Parking to get a closer look at this sculpture is kind of tricky. It is plagued with your typical NYC parking issues. You can find some metered street parking nearby, but it will be a little walk. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the NYC area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. read more