‘Bending Arc’ Sculpture Remains in Storage Amidst Artist-City Dispute Over Repairs
The large-scale art installation "Bending Arc" at the St. Pete Pier in Tampa-St. Petersburg has been in storage since February 2025 due to significant hurricane damage. Disagreements between the artist, Janet Echelman, and city officials regarding repair methods and testing,…
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, August 8, 2026 —
The prominent art installation known as “Bending Arc,” situated at the St. Pete Pier in Tampa-St. Petersburg, has been kept in storage since February 2025 following substantial damage sustained from a hurricane.
The large-scale sculpture, valued at $1.5 million and funded entirely by private donations, has become a point of contention between its creator, artist Janet Echelman, and city officials. The core of the dispute centers on the proposed methods for repairing the artwork and conducting necessary testing.
Efforts to reinstall the damaged installation have been stalled due to disagreements over the repair process. A key point of contention involves the city’s request to take samples from the artwork for forensic analysis. The artist, Janet Echelman, has reportedly raised concerns regarding this specific testing method.
The lack of an agreement on how to proceed with repairs and testing has prevented the “Bending Arc” from being returned to its public display location at the St. Pete Pier. The timeline for its potential reinstallation remains uncertain as discussions between the artist and the city continue.
Story summarized from the original created by By Bill DeYoung, St. Pete Catalyst on www.tampabay.com, see more information here.
