By a unanimous vote, the Kansas City City Council approved $1.6 million in funding on Thursday to repair one of the iconic sculptures called Sky Stations on top of Bartle Hall in downtown Kansas City.
"I think one of the most famous, or perhaps sometimes infamous, pieces of art that have been placed in this city are the Sky Stations," says Councilman Scott Wagner of the sculptures, popularly known as "hair curlers."
Despite some initial criticism in 1994 when the work was installed, Wagner notes the sculptures have since "appeared on national television, T-shirts, and a number of other things, which seems to suggest that we have embraced it ever since then."
One stainless steel and aluminum pylon, placed atop a concrete pillar, was damaged by a lightning strike. "It has been suggested that that was because some water had collected, the lightning hit the right spot, and therefore it cracked," he says.
On May 8, the 40-foot sculpture will be lifted by helicopter and transported to A. Zahner Company in downtown Kansas City. Zahner worked closely in the 1990s with the artist R. M. Fischer to create the steel and aluminum sculptures.
The council approved a $1.3 million contract with Zahner for the removal, fabrication and re-installation. This contract can be amended, with an increase of up to $300,000. Kansas City's public art collection is insured, so the city will be reimbursed for the expenditure minus a deductible, Wagner says.
"When you have public treasures, whether they're our public art or our buildings, then you have to maintain those things," says Councilwoman Katheryn Shields, who championed the city's one percent for art program in her previous term on the council.
Repairs are expected to take several months. The sculpture is slated to return to the site in September.
Laura Spencer is an arts reporter at KCUR 89.3. You can reach her on Twitter, @lauraspencer.
