“Walking to the Sky” is Back, Sorry CMU

The new and improved "Walking to the Sky"

Back in 2006, a 100 ft. structure was installed on the front lawn of Carnegie Mellon University, on Forbes Avenue. In his own words, CMU alumnus and “Walking to the Sky” designer, Jonathan Borofsky, describes the work as “a portrait of all of humanity rising upwards from the earth to the heavens above — striving into the future with strength and determination. Ultimately, this sculpture is a symbol for our collective search for wisdom and awakened consciousness.”

The piece was a gift from former student, Jill Gansman Kraus, and her husband Peter. The truth is that CMU students and faculty didn’t know what to make of it – and a lot of them criticized it. CMU newspaper, “The Tartan” even issued a “100-foot-tall thorn” to Jill Kraus, and raised the question “Do we really have to accept every steaming pile of art that Kraus thrusts at us?” Topping it off with “these eyesores just aren’t welcome.” Yikes!

Recently, for a short period of time, those critics were relieved to see the structure removed- only to find it reinstalled last week. The new and improved “Walking to the Sky” was redesigned for increased stability (the gross weight of this thing went from 13,000 lbs to 40,000!).

What do you think, Pittsburgh? Is “Walking to the Sky” exciting or BORING?

Re-installation of "Walking to the SKy"

Bigger and Stronger "Walking to the Sky" at CMU

Reinstalling "Walking to the Sky" at CMU

Walking to the top at CMU