RIVERFLOW SCULPTURE CELEBRATES PUBLIC ART AND PARTNERSHIP IN CITY CENTER AT SLACK PLAZA
(Charleston, W. Va.) – The City of Charleston Office of Public Art—joined by Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin, the Briar Hills Garden Club, and Jonathan Cox—dedicated the Riverflow sculpture at City Center at Slack Plaza. The installation celebrates the power of public art and the ongoing collaboration to create spaces that are welcoming, vibrant, and reflective of our community.
“Today’s dedication is more than a celebration of Jonathan Cox’s Riverflow sculpture. It’s a reflection of what is possible when we work collaboratively to reimagine and reinvest in our shared spaces,” said Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin. “When I took office in 2019, I made the redevelopment Slack Plaza one of my top priorities. I wanted to create a vibrant and welcoming City Center. Since then, we’ve seen investments in downtown living, office space, shops, restaurants and so much more.”
Located on the living wall at City Center at Slack Plaza, Riverflow draws inspiration from its proximity to the Kanawha River and Haddad Riverfront Park.
“Riverflow is a piece that has transformed the space and has made it possible to see beyond the abstract to the viewer's interpretation,” said Jeff Pierson, Director, Office of Public Art. “The inclusion of Blenko glass makes the work distinctly ours.”
Designed to evoke the river’s flowing movement as a metaphor for life’s continuous journey, the Riverflow sculpture features sweeping horizontal forms in polished stainless steel that will shimmer in the sunlight. Three large circular glass rings, fabricated from Blenko Glass, symbolize wholeness and continuity while subtly referencing the iconic sternwheel riverboats. The materials – stainless steel and 75 pieces of inch-thick cast glass—not only reflect the existing design elements of City Center but also ensure long-term durability. Illuminated by in-ground LED lighting, the sculpture offers a dynamic visual experience both day and night.
“Riverflow was challenging and exciting to bring to life for the vibrant gathering space of City Center at Slack Plaza,” said Jonathan Cox, Sculptor. “I’m grateful to the City of Charleston and to the Briar Hills Garden Club for their vision and for their support of Public Art.”
The Riverflow sculpture is made possible in part through a $14k contribution from the Briar Hills Garden Club, representing a meaningful investment in public art and downtown revitalization.
“Briar Hills Garden Club is delighted to celebrate the installation of West Virginia artist Jonathan Cox’s vibrant Riverflow in City Center. We were pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with Charleston’s Office of Public Art to commission this piece to complement the renovations in Slack Plaza, said Mimi Dinsmore, Briar Hills Garden Club. “Since 1951, the club has enhanced the community through gardening and public art projects, including the Bridge Road Grotto Garden and the kinetic sculpture at the Charleston Civic Center.”
ARTIST BIO
Jonathan Cox is a sculptor specializing in nonrepresentational medium- to large- scale wood, stone, and stainless steel sculptures. His sculptures often explore abstract forms and natural metaphors, engaging with both material and setting to create thoughtful, enduring public art. A retired sculpting professor at Marshal University, Cox has contributed to the region’s cultural landscape. This newest piece marks his fourth public sculpture in Charleston. His other installations include New Life at CAMC Cancer Center, and Continuum and The Discovery, both at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
[Riverflow after dark]
