douglas Kornfeld
"Open Hand, Open Heart" - 2015
Steel and perforated steel - 32' x 17' x 6" - Pittman-Sullivan Park, San Antonio, TX.
The sculpture depicts an an upraised arm with and open hand. The areas that appear transparent are perforated steel plate. The ring at the bottom of the sculpture is hand-polished stainless steel.
Dr. Martin Luther King and his philosophy of social change by non-violent action inspired this artwork. The open hand is a peaceful gesture further emphasized by the open ring in the palm. At the bottom of the arm is another ring designed to encourage visitors to step through the artwork. The polished stainless steel ring is meant to be touched. As visitors step through the ring, and reach up to steady themselves, they mimic the open hand of the sculpture. This action symbolically connects them to the sculpture and the non-violent philosophy of Dr. King.
The sculpture is located in Pittman-Sullivan Park; the end point of the annual Martin Luther King Day march. The march, the largest in the country, regularly attracts over 100,000 participants
Commissioning agency: Department of Arts & Culture, City of San Antonio.
