“Floating Citadel” echoes Detroit’s rich industrial past. Here, at Huntington Place, the new sculpture stands. It’s more than art. It’s a monument to the city’s past, present, and future.
The “Lattice Form Sculpture” stands near where Detroit began. It’s close to the Detroit River’s original edge. Scott Hocking’s vision brings history to life.
“Floating Citadel” reminds us of Michigan’s mining history. Copper and iron ore traveled from the Upper Peninsula. They flowed down the Great Lakes. Detroit became an industrial giant because of them. The auto industry thrived for over a century. All this history happened right where the “Lattice Form Sculpture” is. It stands at Washington and Jefferson.
Hocking drew inspiration from East Jordan Iron Works grates. These grates are all over Michigan. “Floating Citadel’s” form evokes celestial bodies. It also brings to mind astrolabes and cages. Drains, thresholds, and mystic symbols appear. Even human skeletons find a place in the sculpture. Rib cages protect life. But they also trap us on earth. The work represents a global, terrestrial object. It also aspires to an ascending, spiritual form.
“It’s a bit surreal,” says Hocking. His art is in Detroit’s Civic Center. He has lived in this city his whole life. Iconic art and architecture surround it. Layers of history fill this spot. He feels grateful to be part of that ongoing history. He feels lucky.
“Lattice Form Sculpture” joins other major works at Huntington Place. Hubert Massey, Robert Sestok, and Tyree Guyton are nearby. Gilda Snowden’s art is here too. The Joe Louis Fist stands as a powerful symbol. The Spirit of Detroit inspires. Transcending graces Hart Plaza.
Karen Totaro is the general manager of Huntington Place/ASM Global. She says the venue offers a freely accessible art collection. It features local artists from all mediums. Painting, glass, frescos, and murals are on display. A variety of sculptural forms enrich the collection. The art reveals the area’s unique culture. It gives historical meaning to Detroit.
The “Lattice Form Sculpture” was dedicated to Larry Alexander. He was the first chairman of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority. He served from 2009 to 2021. The dedication honors his leadership. He oversaw the $279 million renovation completed in 2015. This renovation brought business and jobs back to the center. Before retiring, Alexander was also president & CEO. He led the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau for 25 years.
Mayor Mike Duggan praised the new sculpture. “Great cities have great public art,” he said. Detroit is gaining a national reputation for its beauty.
The bronze sculpture reflects Detroit’s past. It acknowledges Huntington Place’s global role. “Floating Citadel” is inspired by native shorelines. French voyageurs also played a role. The city’s artistic, creative, and entrepreneurial spirit shines. Savoyard Creek and the original Detroit River edge influenced it. The sculpture takes its name from the original walled village. Its defensive core was called “the Citadel.” That citadel stood where this sculpture now stands.
Hocking has received many awards. These include a Kresge Artist Fellowship and a Knight Foundation Arts Challenge Grant. He also received an Efroymson Contemporary Arts Fellowship.
Totaro believes artwork like “Floating Citadel” enriches Detroit. It connects people to Detroit history. It celebrates the qualities that make our city special. More than one million people visit Huntington Place each year. The artwork challenges, educates, delights, and illuminates them. The “Lattice Form Sculpture” helps tell Detroit’s ongoing story.