Two Opposites Reaching Up Toward the Peak of Progress, Granite sculpture in south Milwaukee, United States.
Two Opposites Reaching Up Toward the Peak of Progress is a narrow red granite sculpture shaped like an hourglass with a trapezoidal opening near its top. It stands about 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall in a traffic median along a busy south side street.
Artist Thomas Queoff created this work in 1977 as a public art installation. It has occupied its position on the traffic median since that time, contributing to the south side streetscape for nearly five decades.
The sculpture represents the concept of duality through its form, contributing to Milwaukee's collection of meaningful public art installations and urban design elements.
The work sits in an active traffic median, visible from both sidewalks along the street. Since it occupies a dangerous zone between traffic lanes, view it from the safety of the pavement rather than attempting to reach it directly.
The surface was carved with diagonal facets that catch light differently throughout the day. This detailed pattern work transforms how the sculpture appears as sun angles shift and shadows play across its narrow form.
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