Bushnell Park in Hartford, Connecticut, has been able to attract both residents and visitors thanks to the legacy it represents. However, the modern monument that resides in Lily Pond showcases how this connection is able to extend to audiences of all eras.
The original Bushnell Park pond was removed after a 1936 flood forced the body of water be channeled elsewhere. A new pond was designed in 1943, but it wasn’t until 1983 that a pond in the park was fully restored. To mark the occasion, a sculpture was commissioned to reside on what was named Lily Pond. Created by Connecticut sculptor Charles Perry, the sculpture was named “Harmony” and formally dedicated in 1990.
Featured on maps and guides to of the park, Lily Pond is one of the main attractions of the park and Perry’s sculpture allows audiences to further connect with the space. The park was designed to provide a dense canopy of green covering that would screen out the sights and sounds of the city. “Harmony” allows audiences to experience this concept in a literal way but it also connects with the themes and people that are represented throughout the space.
The 12′ diameter sculpture features parallel rods that are connected to a pair of semi-circles placed at 90 degrees angles to one another. The rods are divided into four groups, arranged by connecting the end of one semi-circle with the middle of the other so that the sculpture changes its appearance as viewers adjust how they’re viewing the piece.
Perry’s work is focused on exploring the artistic possibilities of geometric forms and the mysteries of the universe’s physical laws. His most famous work “Continuum, ” resides at the entrance to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and contains many of the same themes as “Harmony.” His focus on the geometry inherent in natural forms is connected to the natural beauty and design that are evident all across Bushnell Park.
This connection to the space and central theme has cultivated additional meanings for “Harmony” that audiences continue to experience and interpret in their own way. Doing so has created another landmark for Bushnell Park that will ensure it remains an attraction for both residents and visitors.
