‘Buoyant Force’ Sculpture Descends on Reston Town Center Today

A new 50-foot steel sculpture will be delivered and placed in Reston Town Square Park today (Friday).

The long-anticipated artwork, “Buoyant Force” by Sue Wrbican, is composed of steel.

Here’s more about Wrbican and her work from the Greater Reston Arts Center:

Buoyant Force will be a 50-foot steel sculpture by Sue Wrbican inspired by the paintings of American Surrealist Kay Sage (b. 1898, Albany, New York; d. 1963, Woodbury, Connecticut). Sage, who lived in the shadow of her husband, the surrealist Yves Tanguy, is now recognized for her paintings of scaffolded structures and furled fabric in desolate landscapes. GRACE organized the first comprehensive exhibition of Wrbican’s work, entitled Well Past the Echo, in Fall 2017. The exhibition featured photography, maquettes of Sage-inspired structures, and a site-specific installation. It was featured in The Washington Post and East City Art. Based on the success of the exhibition, GRACE has commissioned Wrbican to realize one of her structures at full-size in Reston Town Square Park. 

GRACE’s executive director and curator Lily Siegel said the artwork will be secured to the base today.

Installation, which includes weather proofing, signagae and weather proofing, is expected to take two weeks to complete. The sculpture’s foundation will remain enclosed with a fence for safety reasons.

A formal community celebration is planned in the spring.  The square was previously home to a nest-like sculpture made from tree saplings in 2017.

GRACE turned to a crowdfunding to help finance the construction of the project. 

Photo via GRACE