The Hamilton Gateway

The Hamilton Gateway. . The sculpture takes the form of an open doorway, a visual metaphor for democracy. The doorway is an image of both welcome and arrival at a key place of entry into the city., A foundation of stone is represented by a carved stone column in limestone and granite. The black, polished granite reaches the height of the historic high water mark on the site during the Great Flood of 1913., Carved in a rippling water surface, this stone column recognizes the lasting importance of the Great Miami River and is symbolic of the enduring, yet fluid and adaptable nature of democracy. Above the water surface, carved drapery moves in heavy, undulating folds., The stainless steel bridge section is based upon traditional steel bridges that have crossed the Miami River. It is a visual illustration of the industrial uses of the river over the years. The bridge section with its swirling lines and rippling arcs represent the power of currents and eddies in waterways., The stainless steel sculptural elements are taken from 19th century engineering drawings of gears, waterwheels and machine elements and paired with native fish species., The weathering steel in the main tower is folded and curved as if made from paper made strong by their connection to each other, these two elements are a reference to both the importance of the paper industry in the community and to the historic growth of Hamilton and Rossville, two towns that became one community., Sweeping forward in space, the tower looks toward the future, but is connected to the past, the blue lamp is a beacon symbolic of the vital qualities of a democracy: vigilance, truth-seeking and justice.