Union Station Contact: Michael Tritt
C: 913.219.6890 [email protected]
Union Station Announces World-Class Visual Art Experience
Featuring “Reflecting Motion” Kinetic Sky Sculpture Created By
Internationally-Celebrated Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics
Presented by CommunityAmerica Credit Union, “Reflecting Motion” features more than
78,000 holographic streamers, 13,400 linear ft. of rope, 300 hand tied knots, and will appear to float in extravagant motion above Haverty Family Yards
Kansas City, MO – April 2, 2019 – Union Station announced today that “Reflecting Motion” (#ReflectingMotionKC), the latest in Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics’ Skynet Series (#SkynetArt), will open to the public on May 12, 2019. Spanning approximately 12,000 square feet (larger than two basketball courts), the silver form will spill over the architecture of Union Station and collect in a shady oval shape over the newest Crossroads Arts District green space – Haverty Family Yards at Union Station.
The artwork will seem to float, as if by magic, in midair, offering a spectacular shimmering display of contemporary art innovation to visitors, who will be encouraged to spend time witnessing the ebb and flow of the installation’s perpetual and mesmerizing movement.
“Union Station is widely acknowledged as the place for Kansas City to gather and celebrate,” George Guastello, Union Station president and CEO, said. “And when it comes to stunning and expansive outdoor venues, we offer one of the most impressive green spaces in the downtown area. Haverty Family Yards – part of our recent Western Expansion Project – provides the perfect place to present the brilliant visual spectacle of Patrick Shearn’s creation, “Reflecting Motion.” In collaboration with Quixotic for the May 11th opening event, this unprecedented, contemporary outdoor art installation will bring an international focus to Kansas City and further establish Union Station as an iconic regional destination.”
Community interest has already exploded in support of and in anticipation of the unexpected and unconventional contemporary visual indulgence.
“CommunityAmerica Credit Union is all about Kansas City, which is why we invest in organizations and projects that make our town a better place to live,” Lisa Ginter, CommunityAmerica Credit Union CEO, said. “We are excited about Mr. Patrick Shearn’s work because it will add to the uniqueness and beauty of our city. We are thrilled to partner with Union Station on this project that promises to connect Kansas Citians through the arts this summer and decorate our beloved skyline.”
Given “Reflecting Motion’s” ultra-lightweight suspended materiality, the work gives shape to the site-specific wind patterns and propels a kinetic performance that makes for a dynamic, ever-changing viewing experience.
“Reflecting Motion” will be comprised of approximately 13,400 linear feet of rope, 300 hand-tied technical knots and over 78,000 streamers of metalized holographic PET film on a monofilament net, forming a silver, iridescent wind wave form above the expansive lawn of Union Station’s Haverty Family Yards. Harnessing available wind, the artwork will soar up to 72 feet in the air and gently cascade down to 18 feet off the ground, undulating in a display that is both striking from a distance and intimately immersive up close.
Artist Patrick Shearn is world renowned for his striking, larger-than-life, animated sculptures, called Skynets. “Reflecting Motion” is the latest kinetic art installation of the Skynet Series, designed to evoke the natural phenomena of swarming found in the synchronized movements of flocks of birds, schools of fish or insects in nature. These works have been featured in select cities around the globe including Los Angeles (California/United States), Melbourne (Australia), Berlin (Germany), Lisbon (Portugal) and Doha (Qatar). As well as installations at major events like Coachella, Burning Man, Sundance Film Festival and Electric Daisy Carnival.
To celebrate the first day of the installation in Kansas City, on the evening of May 11th, Union Station, together with presenting sponsor CommunityAmerica Credit Union and local performing arts partner Quixotic Fusion, will host a kickoff event beneath the “Reflecting Motion” artwork. Additional details regarding this fundraiser and tickets can be purchased at www.reflectingmotion.com.
“Reflecting Motion” will officially open to the public on May 12 and remain on display thru September 2nd. See reflectingmotion.com for a complete calendar of access and events.
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About Union Station Kansas City
Union Station Kansas City — a 501(c)3 non-profit organization — is a 104-year-old historical landmark and celebrated civic asset renovated and reopened to the public in 1999. Now 20 years later, Science City has earned the distinction of Kansas City’s “Favorite Attraction” and “Favorite Family-Friendly Attraction”, while Union Station as a whole is recognized as KC’s “Favorite Historic Attraction” and “Best of KC”. The organization — dedicated to preserving its historic monument and its stories, inspiring lifelong learning and creating lasting memories for our community — is home to Kansas City’s internationally-awarded Science City – Powered by Burns & McDonnell; the new Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium; the Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre; the popular Model Railroad Experience; City Stage featuring live theater, and a selection of unique shops and restaurants. Union Station is also home to prominent area civic organizations and businesses, and regularly hosts world-class traveling exhibitions. Awarded “Top Banquet Facilities in KC” by KC Business Journal, the facility annually hosts hundreds of community events and private celebrations of all sizes. Visit WWW.UNIONSTATION.ORG for details. Also, follow us on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and YOUTUBE.
About Patrick Shearn
Patrick Shearn is an LA-based artist specializing in larger-than-life, immersive art installations. The artist’s signature Skynet Series, earned him international renown after the debut of “Liquid Shard” enamored the city of Los Angeles, transforming an underused public square in the heart of downtown into a bustling destination overnight. Shearn has brought installations to various locations in the U.S. and abroad. Shearn’s expertise in animatronics, robotics and visual effects–gleaned from a 30-year tenure in the film industry as a creature maker and visual effects supervisor–has lent traction to a prolific career as creative director for his studio Poetic Kinetics. The studio is behind the most iconic artworks at Coachella and has set the bar for festival works that both engage the immediate public through interactivity and reach viral notoriety on social media. Visit WWW.POETICKINETICS.COM to learn more about Patrick and his studio and follow their art around the world on FACEBOOK, TWITTER and INSTAGRAM.