Carl Lee Park Amphitheater

Stainless steel and aluminum, 35' x 26' x 22'

Carl Lee Park, conceived as a seamless work of art transforming an acre of asphalt into a green space, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interpret an entire environment. One of the first needs I identified was a moderate sized community performance space. Its design incorporates a sculptural band shell with stone amphitheater seating, a bronze fountain, and gardens. I envisioned a series of arches inspired by gothic architecture arranged to project sound, styled to make a dramatic visual impression. I consulted with Ian Schneller, my former roommate from art school who now owns the Chicago School of Guitar Making, to create a design that would be acoustically excellent whether the performers face the amphitheater or the park’s gently sloping center lawn. The pavilion’s massively cantilevered structure was of such scale that it wasn’t feasible to build in my studio. I entrusted the work to the A. Zahner Company, responsible for the construction of some of the world’s most iconic architecture.

Commissioned by the Elizabeth Smysor Trust for the City of Murphysboro, Illinois (2010)