In Toledo, Ohio, glass is king. In the 19th century, glass manufacturing companies moved to the city and earned it the nickname “the glass capital of the world.” A new public art installation, Field of Histories celebrates this rich heritage. Designed by Brooklyn-based artist Bryony Roberts for the Glass City Metropark, the installation encompasses 187 glowing glass orbs speckled along a walking path along the Maumee River.
Inside each orb lies an engraved 3D image of objects that share local history. These objects were informed by community engagement sessions with the artist. Residents were encouraged to present objects of historical significance that made an impact on their family, local history, or cultural identity. Field of Histories was funded by the Metroparks Toledo Foundation and prompted by a national search for proposals conducted by the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo.
“As I spoke with people on my first visit to Toledo, I realized how many layers of history were embedded in the land of this park and I wanted to find a way to celebrate all of the untold stories of this place,” Roberts shared.
Photographs of these objects served as blueprints for subsurface laser engraving, allowing 3D images to be intricately carved into the center of each glass sphere. These images, described as “detailed frosted shapes” by Metroparks Toledo, are brought to life with LED illumination.
The individual stories within each glass orb illustrate a larger history of Toledo’s industry and labor. The Glasstech Globe was donated in honor of Harold McMaster, a Toledo scientist who commercialized glass tempering technology and developed coatings to de-ice aircraft windows for fighter jets in World War II.
Several contributions showcase local companies: a blue, 1950s-style scale represents Toledo Scales; a glass bowl and ashtray symbolize glass manufacturer, Libbey; and a vintage oil can pays homage to Willys-Overland Motors.
The personal stories of Toledo residents join the conglomerate of industry-related objects. The installation includes a midcentury retirement watch that belonged to Steve Smith, a 1930s rosary passed down among three generations of Toledo residents, and a glass vase which served as a wedding present.
The project is part of a larger riverwalk revitalization to transform abandoned land into a five-mile-long greenway, which includes the Glass City Metropark. The park showcases other works of public art imbued with the same attention to the city’s industrial past. Toledo-based Graphite Design + Build constructed Beacon Tower, a 50-foot steel and glass tower. The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo’s Slag Ladies offers bowl-shaped relics that recall the Maumee Rolling Mills steel company, which occupied the park in the 1880s.
In addition to the constellation of glass orbs, Roberts developed an online catalog showcasing each item with images and descriptions, as well as an interactive map that enables users to view where each piece is situated along the riverfront.
