Memphis, Tennessee, artist Ben Butler called the moment on Friday morning “terrifying.”
That’s when, around 10 a.m., Butler, fitted with a hard hat and gloves, watched through his glasses as crane operators carefully snapped straps to “Rivercloud,” the weight of a Dodge Durango, and hoisted it until it dangled.
At 5,000-pounds, or 2.5 tons, the abstract powder-blue sculpture — created from thin layers of curvilinear steel sheets — is one that Butler created and which, as of Friday, would be lowered and fixed into place to become the latest in a growing number of public art pieces now overlooking the Missouri River at Kansas City’s Berkley Riverfront Park.
“The site ended up being really perfect for the piece,” Butler said Friday.
Public art in Kanas City
He said that in 2024, he was commissioned by the city, as part of it’s 1% art program, to create a sculpture which was originally slated to be installed downtown, perhaps even at City Hall. But as Kansas City’s riverfront developed, so did the idea to place the work at the riverfront, which ended up being fitting given the piece’s inspiration.
“It was designed as kind of an abstract manifestation of cloud forms and river forms,” Butler said.
“One thing I’m really excited about with this sculpture — because of the way it is constructed as layers — it is this solid complex form from most angles, but then from the side angle it almost sort of disappears. You can see right through it. . . .”
Massive but ephemeral
Butler spoke of his interest in “hybrid” forms, like clouds and coursing rivers, that possess dual natures…