Pod, Public sculpture in downtown Portland, United States
Pod is a 30-foot-tall sculpture at Southwest 10th and Burnside in downtown Portland featuring a bronze bulb suspended by 73 titanium rods that swing as a central pendulum. The fixed tripod base anchors the entire structure while allowing the interior components to move freely.
The sculpture was installed in 2002 as part of the Portland Streetcar Project and added to the City of Portland's public art collection. This timing placed it within a broader civic effort to incorporate art into the city's transportation infrastructure.
The sculpture expresses city life through its contrast between stillness and motion, reflecting how Portland moves and changes. Visitors walking by can watch the pendulum swing and sense the interplay between what stays fixed and what flows.
The sculpture sits at a busy downtown intersection where you can view it freely from the surrounding sidewalks and streets. The moving pendulum is visible throughout the day and offers different visual experiences depending on weather and time.
The work incorporates seven different materials including stainless steel, galvanized steel, bronze, titanium, lead, plastic, and rubber across its structure and mechanics. This material layering is rarely noticed by passersby who see only the outer form in action.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
