Pike sculpture going up in Arlington
The huge spear-like piece of “The Pike” sculpture at the Arlington border on Columbia Pike has been installed. The rest of the monument is still a work in progress.
The Pike is on the southwest corner of S. Jefferson Street at the edge of Bailey’s Crossroads in Mason District.
The statue, created by artist Donald Lipski, consists of a 50-foot reclaimed wind turbine that symbolizes a “pike,” a medieval weapon that meant “halt” when held parallel to the ground. In contrast, the sculpture’s upright position is meant to symbolize an open, welcoming toll gate.
Columbia Pike, one of the oldest roads in the region, was originally a toll road.
Nearly 5,000 coins are being embedded in the base of the statue. The coins, from 117 countries donated by Arlington residents, represent the county’s diversity.
Arlington County will hold an official ribbon cutting ceremony this fall. Planning for the statue began about 10 years ago. The Pike is part of Arlington’s Multimodal Street Improvement Project for Columbia Pike. Arlington budgeted about $360,000 for the sculpture; a developer contributed about $60,000.
15 responses to “Pike sculpture going up in Arlington”
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We need a Committee on Mostly Peaceful Protests to provide recommendations for this shrine.
What a horrible waste of money. When this ugly thing gets covered in graffiti I will laugh.
Love public art. It beautifies the area and creates unique landmarks. The placement of coins from around the world will be fascinating to study and give the statue some glinting shine. Tying it into the history of the street marking the area as a historic toll road that is now a welcoming environment is subtle but revealing. Hope their is a plaque explaining the meaning behind it.
I love a historic toll road monument almost as much as I love a historic ATM monument.
Let’s scrap this pike for a better monument.
Here’s the vision: 30,000 lb. chunk of upcycled concrete from the Hoover Dam to commemorate the famed Washington Mutual ATM that once served our community between the Subway and the Shell gas station in Bailey’s Crossroads.
We can glue pieces of clothes to the concrete from people of ALL ages, so we can remember that Bailey’s is an inclusive place for ALL people aged 0-110 or even 115 to engage in commerce.
In short, it will be an inclusive patchwork celebrating the cycle of life through recycled natural energy infrastructure, underpinning our diverse energy that fuels our wonderful local economy. The glue of the individual clothes will be dwarfed only in strength by the bonds of the concrete that demonstrates our togetherness. Approve it first, then we will talk about cost.
-Ombudsman Amigo
What were they thinking?
Who said “they” were “thinking?”
Lawyers I know who want to show how “smart” they are have in the past told that making assumptions like this is “assuming facts not in evidence.”
On rare occasion, lawyers (at least the ones I’m familiar with) have a point.
Checking a lot of woke boxes with this gem!
There are no words – at least I don’t have any.
I’m not sure I should share this, but a single friend of mine who has not dated much these past few years because of COVID told me this photo of the “sculpture” made her feel “frisky” (if you know what I mean).
It was not the word she used, but I consider this a family-friendly blog.
Yeah I gotchur pike right here…
I’m not really sure who Arlington County is giving the finger to, here. Except the taxpayers, I guess. Seems like that money could have gone towards park maintenance, or schools, or senior services, or a zillion other things.
You know what would have made a better art installation? A pike.
I am in the wrong business. Erecting, so to say, a piece of broken wind turbine, for about a half a million dollars…GREAT!
Ir’s a tribute to something all right. Didn’t I just read a news story this week about how 20% of the school graduates from Arlington County Schools are illiterate? And that 60% of the students are considered “at risk” of graduating illiterate, and require “intervention”? Something like that.
Quality in education.
Quality in public art.
Quality in administration of tax dollars.
This whole art installation just screams “Quality”. And it will be there, rusting, for at least a generation.
Well said.
I am appalled! A sad waste of money when there are so many deserving causes!
A landmark. “Meet me by the Pike.”
Who would walk around there? Too dangerous.