Stack Stalk, Public art sculpture at Eastbank Esplanade in Portland, United States
Stack Stalk is a steel sculpture along the Eastbank Esplanade made of stacked cylinders that graduate in size as they rise upward. A Japanese glass fishing float sits at the top and functions as a light for the pedestrian path.
This sculpture was developed in 2001 for the Eastbank Esplanade project as part of a city art support program. The work came from a collaboration between an artist and an architecture firm.
The sculpture represents Portland's connection between eastern Oregon's agricultural heritage and maritime commerce through its stack and wheat sheaf design elements.
This sculpture stands right on the pedestrian walkway of Eastbank Esplanade, directly by the river and easy to reach. The lighting makes it visible in the evening and at night.
The Japanese glass float at the top comes from traditional fishing nets and was repurposed here as a lighting element. This connection between fishing gear and infrastructure makes the work unusual.
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