After experiencing A Knight’s Tale, continue your immersion in metal art by visiting public art pieces within walking distance of the AMA in Downtown Arlington. You’ll see a variety of modern styles and materials, including stainless steel and glass, bronze, sheet-metal, and more. Here are just some of our favorites.
International Peace and Friendship Sister City Monument
by Benito Huerta, Nicholas Wood, Celia Munoz, Eva Luna Warmuth, Peter Picciani, and Christine Wehe-Bamberger
Gene Allen Park
201 West Main Street (east side of the AMA)
In 2001, a friendship monument called The Bridge was created by artists from the City of Arlington and its Sister City, Bad Königshofen in Bavarian Germany. Six of the same artists (three from each city) then created a 12-foot-tall stainless steel International Peace and Friendship Monument, which stands in Gene Allen Park right next to the Museum. The monument was dedicated on July 12, 2003.
Learn more at arlingtontx.gov/residents/about_arlington/public_art/friendship_monument
DREAM by Jeff Schomberg and Laura Kimpton
100 West Abram Street (one block south of the AMA)
For many years, Jeff Schomberg and Laura Kimpton earned international attention for their “BIG WORD” art projects that they unveiled every year at Burning Man Festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. DREAM was their 2016 project. Inspired by the City of Arlington’s claim to fame as the “American Dream City,” a group of Arlington residents led by Bob Pruitt partnered with the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, Downtown Arlington, and private donors to bring DREAM permanently to the city. Each letter of DREAM is 12′ tall x 4’ deep x 8’ to 10’ wide. They are constructed of heavy sheet-metal steel, with cutouts of flying birds to create movement and reduce weight, on a skeleton of rigid tubing for support. Ultimately, DREAM will be moved and installed in a new Rotary DREAM Park between Front St. and railroad tracks which date back to Arlington’s founding days.
Learn more at dreamarlington.org
Your Way by Jeppe Hein
City Center Plaza
100 South Center Street (one block southeast of the AMA)
Thanks to the generosity of the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth Foundation, a playful and sparkling sculpture stands just outside the Downtown Library, which is less than one block southeast of the Arlington Museum of Art. Your Way, a mirror labyrinth made of highly polished stainless steel and aluminum, was created by Danish artist Jeppe Hein. Hein’s work is collected worldwide and includes water fountains, pavilions, sculptural benches, and other mirror labyrinths.
Flamme d’ Illuminacion by Michelle O’Michael
Founders Plaza
101 West Abram Street (one block southeast of the AMA)
At four stories tall, artist Michelle O’Michael created four towering woven steel sculptures to serve as prominent gateway features at the heart of Abram Street in Downtown Arlington. Flamme d’ Illuminacion, whose columns are lit by programmable LED lights, was dedicated in 2021.
Sator Cube by Art Fairchild
Tarrant County Sub-Courthouse
700 East Abram Street
Art Fairchild’s 1,800-pound steel Sator Cube, which is nearly 9-feet tall and features 35 six-sided boxes made from welded steel plates, took about two months to construct. The artist has two other sculptures in Arlington: Trio and Whimsical Spherical which are on display near AT&T Stadium in the Arlington Entertainment District. Sator Cube was installed in Downtown Arlington in 2017.
Learn more at artfairchild.com
Arlington K9 Memorial by Seth Vandable
City Center Plaza
100 South Center Street (one block southeast of the AMA)
K9 Memorial Monument is a bronze sculpture honoring the City of Arlington’s retired and deceased fire and police service dogs. Nearly $65,000 in private donations was collected to commission the K9 Memorial Monument to represent the Arlington Fire Department and the Arlington Police Department service dogs. The sculpture was dedicated in 2020.
Arlington World War II Memorial
Colonel Neel E. Kearby Texas Historical Marker
City Center Plaza (one block south of the AMA)
100 South Center Street
The memorial garden includes plaques paying tribute to heroes from Arlington who served their country in various capacities during World War II. It also features a life-sized bronze statue of Colonel Neel E. Kearby. Col. Kearby was the only World War II Medal of Honor recipient from Arlington.
Learn more at downtownarlington.org/post/arlington-world-war-ii-memorial
What other public art inspires you in Downtown Arlington, throughout the City, or in your home town? Leave us a comment below!
