A Beam of Sun to Shake the Sky, Public sculpture at Milwaukee Public Library, United States
A Beam of Sun to Shake the Sky is a vertical art installation that combines red aluminum ribbons with cut-out letters and rises from granite pedestals next to the main glass entrance facade. The structure consists of two slender forms that taper as they reach upward, accented by ground-level lighting fixtures that highlight them during evening hours.
Artist Richard Taylor created this installation in 2004 during the renovation of the library's Wells Street entrance. The work marked the beginning of a new phase for the building and its public access.
The sculpture displays letters from multiple languages and writing systems, reflecting the linguistic diversity represented within the library. Visitors can observe these different scripts from various angles as they move around the installation.
The installation is located at the library's main entrance and is visible from outside daily without requiring admission. Visitors can best view the work in early evening when ground-level lights highlight the red forms against the sky.
The two slender structures resemble red candles and become progressively thinner as they rise, as if reaching toward the sky. This tapering effect becomes more striking when evening light accentuates the aluminum surfaces against the fading daylight.
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