Construction underway on Columbia Pike statue
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| A rendering of the “The Pike.” [Arlington County] |
Construction is underway on the foundation for “The Pike,” a huge spear-like sculpture on Columbia Pike marking the entry to Arlington from Bailey’s Crossroads.
The Pike, commissioned by Arlington County, will be located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Jefferson Street.
It is expected to be installed by spring 2022, according to the Arlington Department of Environmental Services.
Created by artist Donald Lipski, The Pike consists of a 50-foot-tall reclaimed wind turbine wing.
“Historically, a literal pike, a weapon, was held parallel to the ground, to mean ‘Halt!’” Arlington County explains. “In contrast, the sculpture suggests the welcoming, upright position of a toll gate. Columbia Pike is one of the oldest thoroughfares in the region.”
In 1810, the U.S. Congress approved a charter to build Columbia Pike as a toll road to connect outlying areas to Washington, D.C.
The base of the sculpture will be studded with nearly 5,000 coins from all over the world donated by Arlington residents. The coins reflect the community’s diversity and also reference Columbia Pike’s history as a toll road.
The artwork is part of Arlington County’s Multimodal Street Improvement Project for Columbia Pike.
Interesting. It looks like a quill to me. I look forward to seeing it in person next year.
–kda
I look forward to people asking “what in the hell is that?”
That is the first thing that I thought! No one will know what that stands for just like they don’t know what the Air Force Memorial on Columbia Pike is supposed to represent.