Po-um (Lyric)
Mark di Suvero
Stainless and Corten steel
Between the Moody Center and Moody Visitor Lot
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph S. O'Connor
Mark di Suvero’s Po-um (Lyric) is a prominent sculpture standing in Herzstein lawn—just a short distance from his contemporary Michael Heizer’s: 45°, 90°, 180°. The work's twisted form of abraded steel sits atop a needle-like base, weighing a total of over six tons. It was designed with the specific ability to rotate and balance on its own axis. Installed beside Rice’s heavily-traveled Loop Road, the sculpture offers students and visitors alike several vantage points to experience this dynamic sculpture. In 2012, Po-um (Lyric) was included in the exhibition Mark di Suvero at Governors Island presented by Storm King Art Center in New York. Another example of di Suvero's work (Bygones, 1976) can be found on the campus of the Menil Collection.