HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — People gathered on Thursday to see a new addition at Huntsville Hospital, a sculpture that looks to capture some of the Rocket City’s history.
Arts Huntsville and the Huntsville Hospital Foundation came together on the lawn of Huntsville Hospital to unveil “Moon Gate,” a new sculpture meant to connect the medical district with Arts Huntsville’s downtown Public Art Trail.
The 21-foot-tall and 25-foot-wide culture is the creation of Huntsville native Glenn Dasher and was commissioned by the family of the late Olin B. King. The hospital foundation said King was the founder of SCI Systems, Inc., and was integral in Huntsville’s transition to the space and technology industries. The foundation said the family gifted the piece to reside for the public’s enjoyment at Huntsville Hospital.
According to the foundation, Dasher began developing the idea that would become “Moon Gate” more than 20 years ago. The organization said it all started when he acquired limestone columns salvaged from the old Parkway City Mall when it was demolished in 2002.
“These wonderful columns reminded me of an old city. They became my starting point for telling the story about this remarkable place, its people, and the unique events that sent humans into space, to the Moon, and beyond,” Dasher shared. “This small Southern mill town became America’s gateway to outer space, and has never stopped evolving in its role as a leader in research, technology, and now the arts. In its quest for modernization, through all of its various manifestations, Huntsville has never lost its beauty, warmth, and Southern charm. It is like no other place I know of, and this sculpture is my effort to pay tribute to that.”
The foundation said the King family has been a long-time philanthropic partner of Huntsville Hospital and sees that same story of growth in the hospital’s own development.
Arts Huntsville said the connection of Huntsville Hospital to the Public Art trail and the addition of other pieces to the trail is an important part of the city’s Public Art Master Plan.
“Public art enlivens our everyday spaces and provides an opportunity to interact with art as you go through your day, and Huntsville’s public art landscape has the capacity to grow exponentially with the generosity of donors like the King family and partners like Huntsville Hospital,” said Arts Huntsville Executive Director Allison Dillon-Jauken. “One of the goals of the Huntsville Public Art Master Plan is to infuse our public spaces with artwork that lifts the spirit and engages the mind, and Glenn Dasher’s artwork at Huntsville Hospital will provide that moment of beauty and engagement for patients, family members, and employees.”
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