“Pigeon hotel turned art?” That’s one way to describe the Tower of the Cheyenne Sculpture. This sculpture has a story as unique as its form. Let’s explore this abstract geometric sculpture.
The Tower of the Cheyenne Sculpture was created by American sculptor Peter Forakis. He completed it in the early 1970s. Forakis was a forerunner of the avant-garde movement of the 1960s. He played a role in its re-fabrication more than 30 years later in 2004.
Forakis’s Tower of the Cheyenne references the Cheyenne indigenous people of the Great Plains. The sculpture’s forms are reminiscent of geometric motifs. These motifs are often used in Native American weaving and basketry. The hard edges of its repeating pattern convey a sense of balance.
Forakis pioneered a technique he called “slots”. This involved cutting slots into steel sheets. He would then slide them together. This method allowed him to create large works without welding. The Tower of the Cheyenne reflects Forakis’s interest. He liked combining mathematical concepts and simplified forms.
Initially, the Tower of the Cheyenne was intended as a fountain. Water was supposed to pour from the ends. Plumbing was installed and the triangular forms were open. But the plumbing never worked properly. The open structure was soon overtaken.
The Tower of the Cheyenne became a high-rise pigeon hotel. The pigeons living there caused the COR-TEN steel to deteriorate. The COR-TEN steel is designed to rust. The first eighth of an inch of the surface oxidizes. This was a popular material at the time.
The Offenhauser Company in Houston fabricated the sculpture. They followed Forakis’s concept and design. Forakis received his BFA from the California School of Fine Arts. He also taught at the University of Kentucky and the University of California, Berkeley.
The Tower of the Cheyenne is located in Butler Plaza. It stands as a testament to Forakis’s vision. It also shows the unexpected ways art can evolve. This inert balance of steel is a Houston treasure.