Treemonisha

2006
81’H x 37’W x 35’D
Painted Steel

St. Louis, MO

The sculpture was commissioned in 2007 by the Gateway Foundation in St. Louis, MO. The  piece is the second and tallest in the Falling Card Series.  John planned on a new name, but was asked to come up with one quickly as the Cardinals weren’t doing so well and The Gateway Foundation had no intentions of causing a St. Louis uproar over the sculpture’s installation.  

John often chooses a name that has significance to the area in which he is placing a piece. Treemonisha of course relates to the Scott Joplin Opera written in 1910. John is familiar with and fond of the opera and Scott Joplin was from St. Louis and a major force in American music and American theatre. John wanted to do something that was meaningful to the area of St. Louis, and so the sculpture was named.                                

The sculpture stands at the entrance to the west side of the city where I-55, I-44 and Truman Parkway all intersect. The piece is very dramatic, towering on a hill and visible from miles around.