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Jonathan BOROFSKY
Jonathan BOROFSKY
The confluence of Interstate 29/Interstate 80 joining Council Bluffs, Iowa to Omaha, Nebraska might be the last place you would expect to find a 50-foot aluminum sculpture created by an internationally known artist. The $1.8 million sculpture, instantly recognizable as three giant, interconnected human figures, was created by Jonathan Borofsky, one of the most important American sculptors working today. Not only is Molecule Man clearly visible from I-29 and I-80, it stands near the entrance of the Mid-America Center Arena and Convention Center in Council Bluffs, a community on Iowa’s western edge. The Mid-America Center district is an emerging civic center and regional entertainment destination which draws upwards of 13 million visitors every year.
That’s the appeal for Borofsky, who has placed many large sculptures in urban centers around the world. Borofsky explained, “Whether the city is large or small, the pleasure for me is the same. I enjoy creating symbols about our shared humanity, and then placing them in public settings where they become part of people’s everyday life."
There are only two other large-scale Borofsky-created Molecule Men in the world—one in Berlin, Germany and the other in Los Angeles, California. So, why Council Bluffs, Iowa? The installation of Molecule Man is part of a vigorous plan to use public art as a key ingredient in transforming this Iowa community with a population of 60,000 into a regional destination. The effort is guided and privately funded by one of the largest foundations in the Midwest, the Iowa West Foundation. President and CEO, Todd Graham, believes public art supports the foundation’s big picture focus on education, community betterment and economic development.
The sheer size of the installation required a specially-trained installation team and sophisticated engineering. The base of the sculpture is 44 feet in diameter. Together, the three figures weigh approximately 33,000 pounds. The gleaming metal sculpture stands 50 feet from ground level. From idea to completion, Borofsky estimates approximately 12,000 man-hours to create Molecule Man.
The large-scale sculpture has been customized to withstand Midwestern weather conditions. The artist specifically chose a metal known for its strength — a 2 1/2-inch thick aluminum plate, an alloy known as aircraft aluminum, which is used to build airplanes. Once assembled, Molecule Man has been designed to withstand 100 mile-per-hour straight-line winds.
That’s the appeal for Borofsky, who has placed many large sculptures in urban centers around the world. Borofsky explained, “Whether the city is large or small, the pleasure for me is the same. I enjoy creating symbols about our shared humanity, and then placing them in public settings where they become part of people’s everyday life."
There are only two other large-scale Borofsky-created Molecule Men in the world—one in Berlin, Germany and the other in Los Angeles, California. So, why Council Bluffs, Iowa? The installation of Molecule Man is part of a vigorous plan to use public art as a key ingredient in transforming this Iowa community with a population of 60,000 into a regional destination. The effort is guided and privately funded by one of the largest foundations in the Midwest, the Iowa West Foundation. President and CEO, Todd Graham, believes public art supports the foundation’s big picture focus on education, community betterment and economic development.
The sheer size of the installation required a specially-trained installation team and sophisticated engineering. The base of the sculpture is 44 feet in diameter. Together, the three figures weigh approximately 33,000 pounds. The gleaming metal sculpture stands 50 feet from ground level. From idea to completion, Borofsky estimates approximately 12,000 man-hours to create Molecule Man.
The large-scale sculpture has been customized to withstand Midwestern weather conditions. The artist specifically chose a metal known for its strength — a 2 1/2-inch thick aluminum plate, an alloy known as aircraft aluminum, which is used to build airplanes. Once assembled, Molecule Man has been designed to withstand 100 mile-per-hour straight-line winds.
MOLECULE MAN
MATERIALS: Aluminum
DIMENSIONS: 16.5 tons; 50 x 40 feet
DATE: 2008
LOCATION: Near the entrance of the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa
MATERIALS: Aluminum
DIMENSIONS: 16.5 tons; 50 x 40 feet
DATE: 2008
LOCATION: Near the entrance of the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa
