FREEFORMS

Cincinnati completed a massive renovation of their downtown convention center, which included the one block removal of a main thoroughfare on Elm Street. This Created a brand new and beautiful park that now expands the convention centers entrance, while also creating large mixed use public space for events, music, and art.

The Agar Co. was brought on to navigate three major sections in need of public art. One of which was a scenic path and sitting area in which Luke was hired to design and install seven nine foot metal sculptures of his figures. The location already provided a large inspiration in the form of a mural by artist Tristan Eaton. His piece, which sprawls almost the entire backside of the park, pays homage to King Records, a pivotal and groundbreaking recording studio, established in Cincinnati, that gave birth to well known musicians such as James Brown and Bootsy Collins. It was only natural that Luke continued that spirit through the moving forms of his figures. One of the many influences that came out of King Records was the era of Rockabilly. A popular music genre known for those who liked and continue to dance Swing style. The poses mimic the feel of Swing, while also blending into more contemporary moves.

The designs were intended to push Luke’s figures into a three-dimensional form, while still maintaining the graphic nature that allows them to have such flowing movement. Each piece was crafted, in large thanks to the local fabrication company Radius Concepts, with one inch plated steel welded together, sandblasted, and coated with individual colors based on Luke’s designs.

This project marks a turn in Luke’s sculptural work pushing his figures into larger scales, and showing just the tip of the iceberg of where these forms can go and how grand they can get.