Stratiformis, Steel sculpture in Catalano Square, Historic Third Ward, Milwaukee, US.
Stratiformis is a steel sculpture made from disassembled knitting machines arranged within a framework of reinforcing steel bars. The entire structure is wrapped with galvanized and copper wire, creating a dense, layered appearance.
The work was created in 2004 as part of the Open Art Project launched by the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. It became the first permanent public artwork installed in the Historic Third Ward and shifted how the neighborhood approached public art.
The name references cloud layers that appear to rise through the structure from bottom to top. Local visitors connect it to Milwaukee's manufacturing heritage and the craftsmanship that once defined the neighborhood.
The sculpture sits outdoors in the square and is accessible to see at any time when visiting the neighborhood. Protective coatings are regularly applied to keep it in good condition through Milwaukee's changing seasons.
The sculpture contains machinery parts salvaged from Reliable Knitting Works, the last US maker of wool hats and hockey equipment. These components were deliberately incorporated to preserve the industrial past embedded in the neighborhood's memory.
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