Gatton Park on the Town Branch in Lexington unveils first public art piece
Gatton Park on the Town Branch unveiled its first public art installation Tuesday.
The 16-ton concrete sculpture is a replica of Maclurite, a fossil commonly found in Lexington’s limestone. The ribs of the fossil are engraved with historic events, from the dinosaur extinction in 450,000,000 BCE to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023.
Artist Jason Klimoski, based in Brooklyn, New York, said he talked to Lexingtonians throughout the design process to make sure the sculpture represented the city.
“Everyone said almost the same thing: ’The grass is greener, the horses run faster, the water is sweeter and the bourbon tastes better because of the limestone,’” he said.
“Limestone is really just calcium carbonate, and calcium carbonate are just fossils.”
The sculpture is 54 feet by 36 feet, and is large enough to be used as a small amphitheater, said Allison Lankford, CEO of the park. She said Klimoski was selected after an international call for artists, which brought over 180 submissions.
The fossil replica, names “First Impressions,” is the first of many permanent installations that will be in the park, Lankford said.
When will Gatton Park on the Town Branch open?
While an official opening date for the park has yet to be announced, Lankford said it will be sometime late this summer. The 11-acre park has been in the works for nearly a decade, and construction began in 2023.
The park has raised more than $55 million to date, and will feature an amphitheater, playground, walking trails, public art and more.
The one-third-acre playground will be ADA-accessible and features the Gristmill Tower, sponsored by Misdee and James Miller, with a 27-foot slide and multiple climbing features. The playground also will include a family picnic area, log jams, spinning light posts, a four-prong slide and a toddler play area.