Unity Arch, the newest addition to Arlington's Entertainment District Sculpture Trail, glitters in the sunlight from its hill overlooking Globe Life Park and AT&T Stadium.
The stainless steel infinity sculpture, installed this week in Richard Greene Linear Park, stands nearly 14 feet tall and 25 feet wide and is covered with a mesh made of reflective metal plates.
Renowned artist Owen Morrel said he came up with the design for the sculpture by wrapping chicken wire around a football. But Morrel said he wants to leave the meaning of the piece up to the individuals who view it.
'Unity Arch', is a gathering place for people of all ages and backgrounds. Through the language of pure geometry it creates space where the mind can travel and question, where conversation can emerge between strangers, and positive, inspiring energy called, "Community Spirit", can flourish," Morrel said.
Morrel's Unity Arch was selected out of 21 proposals as the best representation of the community spirit supporting Arlington's growing Entertainment District, which is home to the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Cowboys and the Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor theme parks.
Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams said Unity Arch embodies the "can do" attitude of the city and its residents.
"And where better to showcase that "can do" attitude than in our Entertainment District, which took the passion and spirit of our residents to build. Arlington: the American Dream City, is based on our incredible diversity, aspiration and educational opportunities. The Unity Arch symbolizes this through art and we are proud to have it as one of the foundations of our Richard Greene Linear Park."
The Entertainment District Sculpture Trail was conceptualized in 2011 when Super Bowl XLV was hosted here in Arlington, Texas. Six years later, this idea is now a beautiful reality.
The Sculpture Trail, which spans the length of both the Richard Greene Linear Park and Robert Cluck Linear Park, provides a unique combination of art, nature, and architecture that can only be found here in The American Dream City.
Upon build out, the Sculpture Trail will showcase 15 and 20 sculpture sites at any one time.
"Art is an important piece of any community," Assistant Parks Director Gary Packan said. "If we can continue to work to expand that within our park system to celebrate people and events that have happened in Arlington through sculptures, it's an exciting opportunity for our parks to become more engaging for our residents."
The artwork for the trail is determined by the Sculpture Trail Committee, which is comprised by members from the City of Arlington, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, University of Texas at Arlington and local artists.
A formal dedication ceremony for the Unity Arch sculpture is tentatively scheduled for April.
