Cleopatra's Wedge - Beverly Pepper's Scaled Creation

Of you ever take a stroll down the Burns Commons in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, you may notice the fast rising population of public art displays around the area. Some people think of these monumental creations as a form of "plop art" because of their unique contrast to the surroundings, others say that the art pieces actually accent the townscape pretty well, and make the scenery just a bit more colorful. In 1991, Beverly Pepper; a sculptor from Brooklyn, carved away at an abandoned freeway corridor and shaped it into a tool's contour. Critics say that it resembles a leftover tool of Paul Bunyon (the giant lumberjack in fables). The sculpture was entitled "Cleopatra's Wedge" and maintains a vibrant rustic tone because of its material (Cor-ten)

Sculpture by Beverly Pepper - Photography Copyright © 2005 Sulfur

Beverly Pepper's sculpture was also exhibited at the New York Battery Part and Paris, France. It was eventually purchased for over two hundred thousand American dollars by Barry Mandel to put at its current location; the Burns Commons. Mandel hoped that the artwork would act as a centerpiece for the sculpture garden, surrounded by several smaller works. The park itself was named after Robert Burns, famous poet, giving consistency to the arts theme of the area. Pepper's monumental creation currently towers over the Burns Commons and stands as a lighthearted sight for park-goers and art lovers alike.

Read more »