GREENSBURG, Kan. (AP) A southcentral Kansas town that was nearly wiped out by a massive tornado in May 2007 has added a new sculpture to a park that stands on the grounds of its leveled city hall.
The 5-foot-tall spiral of stainless steel shaped around an elegant blue glass form is the third sculpture to be installed at Starlight Park in Greensburg, The Hutchinson News reports. Called Aurora, its a joint project of glassblower Rollin Karg and metal sculptor Jeff Garrelts. Karg described the hue of blue as a show-stopper.
Erica Goodman, who runs an antique store on Main Street, likes the latest addition to the park. The spiral reminds me of a tornado and the glass is us rising out of that event, Goodman said.
Greensburg was hit with an EF5 tornado that was nearly two miles wide at one point and had winds topping 200 mph. Eleven people were killed and most of the towns buildings were leveled, including the city hall.
On the 10th anniversary of the disaster, the town dedicated the first of three sculptures on the former city hall site. The first piece, called The Beacon, features etchings on its textured metal. A kinetic piece, called Triple Eclipse, was added next. It has three wheels with stained glass stars that reflect light as they spin.
A committee began planning the art project in December 2015.
