Watertower (Fruin)
Watertower is a public art work by artist Tom Fruin. It is located just south of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin on top of the seven-story Coakley Brothers Company warehouse in the Walker's Point neighborhood.
| Watertower | |
|---|---|
| Artist | Tom Fruin |
| Year | 2017 |
| Type | Plexiglas and steel |
| Dimensions | 610 cm × 610 cm (240 in × 240 in) |
| Location | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Owner | Coakley Brothers Company |
Description
Watertower is a sculpture made of multicolored Plexiglas panels assembled in a frame of welded steel in the form of a water tower. The sculpture's form references the once-common rooftop water tanks, most of which were removed decades ago.[1] Sunlight illuminates the artwork by day, and interior lights make it highly visible at night. Fruin salvages the Plexiglas used in his sculptures.[2]
Commissioning process
Coakley Brothers CEO Peggy Coakley commissioned the artwork for the rooftop of her family business after viewing a similar work by Fruin during a visit to New York. This is the artist's sixth water tower.[3] The artwork is part of a $6 million renovation of the Coakley warehouse.[4] According to a statement by Coakley, her goal with the commission is that "the public will see the sculpture as a symbol of pride for the city's diverse and vibrant citizens and a symbol of how neighborhoods and cities can be progressive and forward-thinking, while still being true to their roots."[5]
References
- Nelson, James (21 September 2017). "Massive water tower sculpture lifted to the top of Coakley building in Walker's Point". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- Tanzilo, Bobby (6 September 2017). "Coakley unveils rooftop art for renovated Walker's Point headquarters". OnMilwaukee.com. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- Nelson, James (6 September 2017). "Coakley wants water tower sculpture to be a colorful 'beacon' on Walker's Point". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- Jannene, Jeramey (21 September 2017). "Coakley Installs Artistic Water Tower". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- Tanzilo, Bobby (6 September 2017). "Coakley unveils rooftop art for renovated Walker's Point headquarters". OnMilwaukee.com. Retrieved 31 October 2017.