Artist: Howard Meehan
Year: 2010
Materials: digitally enhanced photography in laminated glass, powder-coated steel frame, and LED lighting
Location: Columbia City Hall Plaza, 701 E Broadway, Columbia, MO
About the art
Completed in May 2010, the Keys to the City sculpture is the biggest Percent for Art project undertaken by the city to date. This large-scale sculpture commemorates Columbia’s history and includes imagery of local landmarks, and notables like Mary Paxton Keeley and John William “Blind” Boone, set against a backdrop of local historical maps. They keyhole-shaped sculpture serves as a main portal to city hall. Its design and placement are essential to the artist’s intended metaphor, that an active and involved citizenry is the key to a prospering community.
Percent for Art: Keys to the City from Office of Cultural Affairs on Vimeo.