Seven Sentinels

Kansas City artist Matthew Dehaemers spoke with a range of residents and stakeholders to help him decide what kind of artwork he should create for the Vehicle Impound Facility. It didn't take him long to realize that most people who visit the facility, visitors and workers alike, tend to leave in a less-than-happy mood. "Life is full of challenges. Some are self-induced and some are thrust upon us. Regardless, after we face them, it's nice to get a pat on the shoulder to help us move on," Dehaemers said during one planning meeting. "When people experience Seven Sentinels, I hope they smile. At least they'll have a chance to gain some closure and move forward." Seven Sentinels is made of standard automatic parking gates modified into seven, 16-foot-tall sculptures which were fabricated locally at A. Zahner Company. The sculptures stand equidistant inside the traffic island that separates incoming and outgoing traffic at the Vehicle Impound Facility entry. Each gate rises as cars leave the facility, presenting a synchronized display like sports fans doing the Wave or soldiers presenting a military sword tribute. After the car finishes going past all the gates, they return to their level state in a similarly staggered wave pattern for the benefit of the exiting vehicles rear view and for the people at the stop light across the street. In addition to its legislated responsibility for approving all encroachments onto city property, the primary role of the Municipal Art Commission is to oversee the administration of the Kansas City One Percent for Art Program. Through the One Percent for Art Program, the mission of the Municipal Art Commission is to serve as a catalyst for artistic growth and aesthetic excellence in our communities, and in doing so, enhance the vitality of Kansas City and enrich the lives of its citizens. www.kcmo.org/CKCMO/Depts/GeneralServices/Facility/MunicipalArtCommission/index.htm