1160 - A Not So Private Sky by Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle

Nestled amongst the skyscrapers and high rises in the heart of Rochester is the Peace Plaza, a haven of tranquility that fosters hope, healing, and rest in the middle of a bustling medical community. The immersive plaza has four key artworks that encourage visitors to interact with each other in the shared space. With artworks made out of stone, aluminum, bronze, light, water, and fog, visitors are exposed to a range of sensory experiences from the ground to the sky. The Plaza is flanked by two sculptures, the refurbished Peace Fountain and A Not So Private Sky, a 26-foot tall sculpture created by Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle in August of 2021.

A Not So Private Sky consists of stacks of polished stainless steel dodecahedrons that represent the shape of carbon atoms, the platonic solids that are the basis of earth, air, water, and life within our vast universe. The sculpture serves as a towering beacon that connects Ann Hamilton’s paving artwork A Song for Water with the sky. It grounds visitors here on Mni Sota Makoce, which is Dakota for Minnesota and translates to “the land where the waters reflect the sky.”

The artist, Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, was born in Spain in 1961 and raised in Colombia and later Chicago. A devout college student, Inigo earned Bachelor’s degrees in art and art history, as well as Latin American and Spanish literature from Williams College. He went on to obtain a Master’s of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1989. His technologically sophisticated sculptures and video installations use natural forms such as clouds, icebergs, and DNA as metaphors for understanding social issues and emphasizes the intricate nature of ecosystems. Iñigo Manglaho-Ovalle had a major exhibition at the Rochester Art Center in 2006, and now, his sculpture, A Not So Private Sky, will stand in the community for decades to come.