“Complexus,” a monumental work by the Tennessee-based sculptor John Henry, is closer to having a permanent home in Sarasota. At a public meeting on June 18, the Sarasota City Commission unanimously approved the Sarasota Public Art Fund’s request to purchase the work and gift it to the city of Sarasota.
“Public art helps define a community,” says Thomas J. Savage, president of the Sarasota Public Art Fund (SPAF). “Art in public view plays a vital role in a city’s appeal, quality of life and economic viability. That’s why so many of us are extremely motivated to keep ‘Complexus’ in Sarasota. This signature work by the renowned sculptor, John Henry, has become a spectacular part of our cityscape and adds an important element to Sarasota’s rich cultural tapestry.”
The 70-foot tall, bold and bright red steel sculpture was the star of the show at this year’s Sarasota Season of Sculpture’s outdoor sculpture exhibition. As that exhibition drew to a close, the Sarasota Pubic Art Fund launched a campaign to purchase the piece of art. The sculpture is l at the corner of U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue, in front of One Sarasota Tower, in downtown Sarasota.
Savage notes that a significant concession on the artist’s part helped make this purchase possible. Although the original price tag for “Complexus” was $850,000, Henry agreed to sell it for $500,000. Savage explains that the Sarasota Public Art Fund’s goal is to raise a total of $600,000 to cover costs involved with maintaining and insuring the sculpture. An additional $50,000 of the total amount raised will be donated to the Sarasota Season of Sculpture for future exhibitions. The sculpture will ultimately belong to the city of Sarasota as a permanent part of its art collection.
Savage adds that this acquisition helps connect the community to the larger cultural tapestry of the international art scene”where John Henry is a major figure.
Henry, whose career as an artist spans 45 years, is critically renowned for his large-scale, hard-edged works of art, often described as resembling Pick Up Sticks. Recognized as powerful statements that bisect visual space and easily integrate into the psyche, his works have become icons in important public art collections and are found in the permanent collections of museums, galleries and other corporate, public and private venues around the world.
“John’s definitive style is both grand in scale and yet deceptively simple; a paradoxical approach that has been labeled Zen engineering,” says Savage. “The geometric forms that have defined his work for more than 40 years have their aesthetic and historical base in constructivism. ‘Complexus’ is one of his most significant pieces”a signature piece that cries out, ‘Hey, look at me! I’m big, bold and beautiful!’ This physically powerful work makes an immediate impact on all who see it.”
Thanks to the recent decision on the part of the Sarasota County Commission and the Sarasota Public Art Fund’s fundraising campaign, Sarasotans are closer to calling this sculpture a permanent feature of their landscape.
“The good news is that we’re already more than halfway there,” says Savage, noting that Sarasota resident, Jan Schmidt, started the campaign off in April with a $250,000 donation. Since then, the organization has raised an additional $100,000.
“We think this overwhelming show of support reflects the enthusiasm area residents have for this significant work of art”and for this project,” says Savage. “We’re looking for the community to get behind this in a strong way and we’re optimistic that our goals will be achieved. The search is on for an individual or a corporation to match Jan Schmidt’s $250,000 pledge.”
