METAMORPHOSIS with James Kitchen

the public is invited to the **Meekins Library** for the official reveal of the **base of what will become New England’s tallest recycled sculpture**, created by renowned metal sculptor **James Kitchen** who will be on-site to give a brief talk at 11: 00 AM

The unveiling will feature the installation of **three massive girders**, each weighing 3,600 pounds, salvaged from the historic **1895 Springfield Armory Drill shed**. These graceful, riveted steel trusses—built before welding was common—once stood where Civil War veterans marched under and were rescued after the devastating 2011 tornado that struck Springfield.

The sculpture’s foundation is part of a larger **42-foot-tall work** honoring regional history, ingenuity, and resilience. The final design includes a towering globe formed from countless recycled tools and artifacts, most invented or manufactured in New England—from ice tongs and horseshoes to railroad spikes and arrowheads. 

A **Revolutionary War-era cannonball** near the top of the spire will serve as a tribute to George Washington’s time in New England and the historic role in the birth of the nation.

A **large-scale 3D-printed model** of the completed sculpture will also be on display, offering visitors a glimpse of the full vision to come.