| Stix | |
|---|---|
 The public art installation in 2016 | |
 | |
| Artist | Christian Moeller |
| Year | 2015 |
| Location | Nashville, Tennessee, United States |
| 36°9′17″N86°46′46″W / 36.15472°N 86.77944°W | |
Stix is a public art installation or sculpture at Korean Veterans Boulevard and 8th Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee. It was designed by Christian Moeller, [1] and erroneously reported to be an homage to the Native Americans who owned the land prior to European settlers. [2] "Actually, that was not my original intent. The only reference to Native American art I made was showing an image of a beautiful totem pole at an early stage of the project development. I did this in order to give an example of how the colors I proposed to use would contrast with the grayish, silver patina that the wooden poles would develop over time," said Moeller. Its construction cost $750,000, [2] making it the "most expensive" public art installation in Nashville. [3] According to Nashville Public Radio , its cost and name turned it into "a magnet for skepticism" prior to its dedication in 2015. [4] In March 2018, a car crashed into the installation. [5]
The original design called for 35 poles standing 85 feet high and each pole tip was to be covered with a custom-made “LED lightcap” to emit a light glow at nighttime. [6] The design was later revised to reduce the number to 27 poles at a height of 70 feet tall and to eliminate the lightcaps. [7] [8]
Created to resemble that of a gladiator arena to go along with the ancient theme as that of the Parthenon in Nashville. Situated on a round about, this is to give drivers the illusion they are in a chariot arena. The colored poles represent spears which used by gladiators in an attempt to skewer riders off their mounts. Drivers going through here make it a game by driving faster in order dodge the poles as if they are being used to attack the vehicles.
