Steven Durow, Levee Break, Cast Glass, Steel,204"h x 96"w x 48"d. photo courtesy: the artist
Made of cast-glass and steel, a sculpture standing 17-feet-high and measuring eight-feet wide has been awarded “Best in Show” at the 12th Annual Florida Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition. Created by glass artist Steven Durow in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Levee Break was chosen out of ten sculptures selected annually for a year-long juried exhibition of work from around the U.S. Judge Sarah Clark-Langager awarded Levee Break the title of “Best in Show” which included a prize of $3,000.
The Florida Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition is a joint project between The Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, Florida and the city of Winter Haven, Florida. Community members as well as curatorial and education staff members from the museum choose the pieces to be on display in three municipal parks in Winter Haven.
Durow works primarily at an architectural scale sculpture with monumental installations. His recent work has transitioned onto a personal level. He writes on his professional website “While not at all comfortable with the concept of self-referential art, I found it impossible to keep myself out of this most recent series.” He draws his inspiration from architecture and industry, utilizing the mediums of stone, steel and wood in combination with glass to address ideas of personal and social history, perception and memory. Because of their large scale and scope, Durow positions his pieces to confront viewers’ concepts of place, ideology and subjective meaning.
“When the Levee Breaks” is a blues song written and originally recorded by husband and wife Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie in 1929 (Led Zeppelin recorded it in 1971.) The song is said to be a reaction to the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.
The reception and awards celebration of the 12th Annual Florida Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition will take place on May 3, 2012 at Central Park Stroll in Winter Haven. Levee Break will be on display in the Central Park area of Winter Haven through February 2013.
—Suzann Caputo