Restored sculpture inspiring St. Xavier Park

A loft apartment building in downtown Cincinnati's St. Xavier Park neighborhood has been adorned with a nine-foot bronze sculpture, created by acclaimed Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro. The city of Cincinnati acquired the work in 1966 - its first public art purchase -- and put it on display near the venerable Tyler Davidson fountain. In recent years, though, the work found its way into storage, out of the public eye.

As Al. Neyer's multifamily development team was renovating Sycamore Place at St. Xavier Park apartments, they designated an area in front of the building's courtyard as an ideal place for an artistic statement. With the help of art consultant Liz Seuer, they discovered the Pomodoro piece, called "Traveler's Column," might be available.

"We knew right away "Traveler's Column" could add another important visual layer to our Sycamore Place project," says Chris Knueven, Al. Neyer development director.

Traveler's Column' is now on a busy downtown corner, enjoyed by residents of the building and people walking and driving by. "Art is essential to a neighborhood's vibrancy and identity," Knueven says. "We're fortunate that such an important work was already in our midst." Sycamore Place opened in June 2002 as St. Xavier Park's newest refurbished loft apartment building. Al. Neyer and North American Properties jointly purchased and renovated the former shoe manufacturing facility that had long been vacant.