Petal-shaped tire sculpture to frame Lock 3, Akron's past, future
A new 17‑foot, 10,000‑pound sculpture rises at the entrance to Lock 3, its twin‑petaled form forged from stainless steel and reclaimed Goodyear Racing Eagle tires. Created by internationally acclaimed sculptor Chakaia Booker, the work turns discarded rubber into a striking, organic gateway that invites visitors to walk through its curved arches.
The piece marks a milestone for Akron’s public art program: it is the city’s first major contemporary outdoor sculpture commissioned from a woman artist. By repurposing the very material that once powered the region’s tire factories, the sculpture bridges the city’s industrial legacy with its emerging cultural identity.
Funded through a blend of public and private support—including the VIA Art Fund, the city of Akron, and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition—the $550,000 project also features a series of community events. An artist talk at the Akron Art Museum and a naming ceremony at Lock 3 will give locals a chance to engage directly with Booker’s process and the work’s symbolic resonance.
Beyond the monument itself, the commission is accompanied by a limited‑edition, hand‑bound publication designed by local creative Nolan Shumate, underscoring the collaborative spirit of the Curated Storefront initiative that is revitalizing downtown storefronts with works by regional artists.