James Kitchen sculpture culminates the James Kitchen Public Art Initiative.
SPRINGFIELD- With its head pointed up and its wings gracefully at its sides, the 600 pound bird sculpture erected in downtown Springfield Sunday was an impressive sight.
“I can’t stop smiling,” said James Kitchen, the creator of the sculpture and the featured artist in The James Kitchen Public Art Initiative, which displays local art at various locations across the city.
Kitchen, of Chesterfield, said he is excited to display his art around the city.
The bird named “ Birdicus Gigantium” is 35 feet high and made of recycled steel.
“It’s actually one of the lighter sculptures I’ve worked on. I have one in another part of the city that weights 3,000 pounds,” he said. “It’s the tallest sculpture I’ve made so far.”
The sculpture is the last of 30 pieces displayed across the city and created by Kitchen with recycled materials collected across Western Massachusetts. “There are a lot of agricultural parts and gears, things that are 150 years old,” he said. “ Each piece has its own story.”
The initiative came about after Kitchen met Evan Plotkin, one of the owners of One Financial Plaza. After seeing his work over a year ago Plotkin decided to create a public art gallery.
“He had been keeping this work in his yard where no one could see it and I thought it would be great to spread them out across the downtown area for people to look at,” Plotkin said.
“I am so grateful to Springfield and I think it’s a great city. People are always saying things about Springfield but I talked to one woman who came down over the weekend to look at the sculptures and she walked all over the city, she ate at a restaurant and she felt safe,” Kitchen said. “If we have people coming down to look at the art and stopping to eat at Nadim’s or at the Student Prince that helps the local economy.”
Plotkin, who was involved in the successful sneaker campaign in 2010 “Art and Soles” where local artists painted designs on fiberglass sneakers, said he wants to continue to feature local artists throughout the city.
Plotkin said some of the newest pieces were made by Matt Johnson, an Easthampton artist, who also sculpts metal.
“This is also meant to help artists so that they can get exposure and make a living as artists by selling their work,” Plotkin said. “Through these displays I want to help create a brighter future for the city, one immersed in the creative economy.”
“Birdicus” may be the last sculpture of this series, but Kitchen has no plans to stop.
“I have some ideas. I would like to do a piece created with recycled materials from Springfield,” he said.
The sculpture was placed in an open walk way, owned by One Financial Plaza, which is between Main Street and Court Square.
Plotkin said he hopes this will brighten up the space and attract people to the area to hear music, eat at local restaurants and enjoy the city in a new way,” he said.
He also hopes other businesses will take notice.
“If other businesses see that the art is attracting positive attention to the area and bringing in visitors then we can create a new conversation about the city and what it has to offer,” he said.
In honor of the project tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. there will be live music, food and a personalized tour of the art gallery by Kitchen himself starting in front of the bird sculpture a One Financial Plaza.