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Discarded racing tyres become 17-foot sculpture in Ohio park

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The $550,000 project, titled "Transit," was commissioned by Curated Storefront after receiving municipal and arts task force approvals in 2023. Constructed from donated Goodyear Eagle F1 racing tyres, the two overlapping crescent structures still display original factory labels featuring the names of the workers who made them. Booker has specialized in repurposing discarded automotive rubber for over four decades, having previously exhibited at the Akron Art Museum in 2000.

Key points

  • The piece is the first major contemporary outdoor sculpture created by a woman artist in…: The piece is the first major contemporary outdoor sculpture created by a woman artist in the city of Akron.
  • Repurposed automotive materials were intentionally chosen to honor Akron's historical ide…: Repurposed automotive materials were intentionally chosen to honor Akron's historical identity as the Rubber Capital of the World.
  • The permanent installation represents the evolution of Chakaia Booker's four-decade caree…: The permanent installation represents the evolution of Chakaia Booker's four-decade career of sculpting with discarded industrial tires.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Discarded racing tyres that once belonged to Goodyear have found a second life as a towering public artwork in Akron, Ohio, a city known for its long association with the rubber industry. Internationally acclaimed sculptor Chakaia Booker unveiled her 17-foot-tall sculpture, titled 'Transit', at Lock 3 park on October 29, 2026, turning recycled automotive material into a landmark in the heart of the city, according to local news outlet Signal Akron.

Made primarily from donated Goodyear Eagle F1 racing tyres and stainless steel, the sculpture comprises two large, crescent-shaped structures covered with rectangular pieces of rubber arranged in an overlapping, shingle-like pattern. Positioned in a grassy area near South Main Street, the installation overlooks the Ohio & Erie Canal and forms part of Akron’s expanding public art landscape. The work is also the city’s first major contemporary outdoor sculpture by a woman artist, Signal Akron reported. Booker revealed the sculpture’s name during a public dedication ceremony at Lock 3. Addressing the crowd, which gave her a standing ovation, she announced: “The title is ‘Transit’ … and I’m so happy we…

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