A wonderful new sculpture for Hartford was installed Friday, May 15, in Pope Park thanks to a creative partnership among the Greater Hartford Arts Council, the Friends of Pope Park, and the Pope Hartford Designated Fund. 

 The kinetic sculpture designed by well known sculptor Tim Prentice is designed to celebrate the work of Colonel Albert Pope who donated Pope Park to the city as a place for his employees in 1895. 

 Prentice describes the work as “a kinetic sculpture which celebrates the first bicycle to employ wheels of equal size.  The two wheels in this case are mounted on a mast tall enough to take best advantage of the wind and to be safely out of harm’s way.  The wheels are driven by the wind due to a series of slanted fins attached to the rim.  Unlike the wheels in Pope’s invention, the two rotate at different speeds as the air currents will be inconsistent on each wheel.”

The sculpture wheels are aluminum.  The fins are lexan, a UV resistant poly carbonate developed by GE for use in skylights and greenhouses.  The supporting mast is a hollow aluminum flagpole adapted for the purpose. 

Prentice says, “The destination of this airborne bicycle will be uncertain as the direction of travel will be dictated by the whim of the wind.”

 Funding for the sculpture was provided by the Greater Hartford Arts Council, the Friends of Pope Park and the Pope Hartford Designated Fund.

The sculpture has been installed at the entrance area to the new center courtyard at Pope Park completed in 2007 as part of Phase II of the Park’s restoration.