A representation of the star cluster in the constellation of Taurus, The Pleiades was crafted of stone and steel by artist Charles Pilkey. Installed in the courtyard at Clarksville Commons, the sculpture’s simplicity and serenity provide passersby with a reprieve from the rush of modern life.
Discussing the inspiration for his work, Pilkey says, “Like all artists I am indebted to great minds both past and present. But my best mentors have always been cold mountain winds, the sound of waves at night, campfires under stars innumerable as dust on a vagabond’s blanket – earth, air, fire, water, stars.”
Pilkey currently makes his home in Mint Hill, North Carolina. Previously, he lived for fifteen years in Japan, where he taught sculpture at Kyushu Sangyo University. His work can be seen in private and public collections in China, Italy, Japan, Korea, Turkey and the U.S. His sculptures Appalachian Spring (2013) and Ark (2019) were also exhibited as part of ARTsites.
ARTsites 2020 sculptures will be on display through July 2021. To request a copy of our ARTsites 2020 brochure, email info@hocoarts.org, or click here to view photos of the sculptures online.