Dedicated Wednesday night at John Hunt Park, the SkyLume sculpture marks the largest public art commission Arts Huntsville has managed for the City of Huntsville to date.
The 60-foot illuminated sculpture has been installed at the roundabout south of Joe Davis Stadium, near the park’s festival grounds.
Arts Huntsville Executive Director Allison Dillon-Jauken said the project reflects both the ambition of the public art program and what sets Huntsville apart.
“SkyLume gives the park a defining landmark that infuses the area with a sense of place unique to Huntsville,” Dillon-Jauken said. “This is one of the many ways Huntsville stands out among peer cities.”
Designed by Indianapolis artist Adam Buente of Project One Studio, SkyLume is composed of painted steel and aluminum, with kinetic components that respond to wind and sunlight by day and programmable pixel lighting that transforms the structure into a shifting, colorful beacon after dark. A tall central ribbon form anchors the piece, wrapped by a spiraling secondary ribbon meant to suggest energy and motion.
The piece nods to Huntsville’s aerospace identity, expressing lift and propulsion through movement, scale and light rather than literal imagery.
Buente said the work is rooted in themes that feel at home in Huntsville.
“The sculpture explores themes of gravitational pull, community connection, and forward momentum,” Buente said. “The central ribbon symbolizes an unseen force that draws people in, while the encircling ribbon reflects the energy and movement of the community around it.”
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said the sculpture is a fitting addition to one of the city’s most beloved gathering places.
“John Hunt Park is where our kids compete, where our families gather, and where Huntsville celebrates regional and national championship competitions,” Battle said. “Now, a new landmark stands in front of Joe Davis Stadium that serves as a beacon for everything that happens here.”
SkyLume was selected through an invitational process that drew nearly 100 international candidates before Buente was chosen in November 2024. The sculpture is a permanent installation, visible year-round at John Hunt Park. More information is available at artshuntsville.org.
