Client: MCAD, City of El Paso

Overview

Representing the symbiotic relationship between firefighters and their community, Pillars of the Community was created by artist Ken McCall. The work, which was completed in 2022, combines materials including corten steel, painted steel, mild steel, stainless steel cable, acrylic, and LED lights. Interlaced lines from the hoses of three firefighters into the pillars symbolize the firefighter’s civic presence that shapes the fabric of the community. This project supports the new fire station built in West El Paso, a 12,055 square-foot building intended to support El Paso Fire Department as they continue to serve growing areas of the City while holding a civic presence and strengthening a sense of community.

Goals

In creating this artwork outside the new Fire Station 36, the City’s Museums and Cultural Affairs Department and the artist shared the goal of highlighting and honoring firefighters’ critical role in the El Paso community. Artist Ken McCall’s fabrication skill set and familiarity with metal as a primary medium allow him the flexibility to produce objects of art that are at once delicate and monumental. He shares: “The meticulous construction methods that my studio employs give a seamless quality to the art to emphasize the elegant lines of the design. The resulting art is a combination of artistic vision, solid craftsmanship and careful integration of the piece in the natural setting.” This grounded connection to space is a powerful component of Pillars of the Community, taking on even more meaning as Fire Station 36 opened in late 2023. Showcasing both the bravery of local firefighters and the safety they secure for El Pasoans, the piece meets its goal of fusing the artist’s unique style with the community within which it stands.

Process

In collaboration with the community and artist, the sculpture was created to showcase the interdependence of firefighters and those they serve. To make this relationship visual, the piece was designed with specific, local elements in mind. Each pillar is engraved with a regional map of the neighborhoods served by Fire Station 36, with the center column depicting the physical location of the fire station. While the towers portray the firefighter’s constant service and steadfast dedication that provide a lifeline to the community, the maps signify the surrounding area that is the foundation of the fire station. The lighting in the sculpture is connected to the fire station’s alarm so that the color will change when the firefighters are responding to a call, alerting those in the immediate vicinity that the trucks will be leaving the station. The stainless rigging creates an interaction that plays with space and light, while the contemporary design of the figures makes them timeless and encompasses the vast diversity of those that serve. In Pillars of the Community, the artist, City, and community have collaborated on a piece with both symbolic meaning and tangible public impact.