Memorial Day weekend marks the debut of Citygarden’s expansion in downtown St. Louis.
The sculpture park along Market Street will officially unveil three new and two returning larger-than-life works from internationally acclaimed artists on Saturday, May 25, with festivities from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Over the last several weeks, crews worked on completing installations for the expansion project, which includes the integration of the Ninth Street section of the urban park.
“White Ghost” by Yoshitomo Nara, a whimsical statue that resembles both a dog and a child, is among the new installations. The large, glossy white fiberglass sculpture once stood tall over Park Avenue in New York City. Another new piece, “Mechanical Planet” by Jan Kaláb, shows playfully balanced spheres in bright colors. Hank Willis Thomas’ “All Power to All People” is an 8-foot-tall aluminum Afro pick that morphs into a power fist at the handle.
Joining the new works are two familiar pieces making their now-permanent return to the park: Ugo Rondinone’s “Moonrise,” an 8-foot-tall mask-like bust with a grinning face; and Jim Dine’s “Big White Gloves, Big Four Wheels,” the iconic statue of Pinocchio with outstretched arms.
In all, the urban park has 25 sculptures spread out among meticulously planned landscaping over approximately 3 acres.
Saturday’s grand opening celebration is free and open to the public and will feature live music, giveaways, opportunities to win custom-designed prizes and even a flock of flamingos.
The brightly colored birds are a nod to Peter Fischer, who spearheaded the creation of Citygarden on behalf of the Gateway Foundation. Fischer incorporated flamingos in Citygarden in creative ways over the years. This year marks 15 years since the park’s completion.
