Sculpture View 1 and Sculpture View 2 . Warnock's design for the library recognizes both the Native American's and the settler's roles in Fort Smith's history. Using bronze, ceramic, stone, falling water and light, he has developed a formal composition which harmonizes with and compliments the new library building's design. The sculpture's overall form associates with, without specifically representing, an ax head standing on its edge. This choice of form visually identifies with the indigenous Mississippian culture's use of primitive tools and references displaced and local Native American and European settler's historical phases during which trapping and trading were predominantly practiced.
Water trickles down from the sculpture's interior toward a catch basin below.
When designing the sculpture, Warnock took into consideration the various views of the work visitors will have. From the library's parking lot they will be able to understand the sculpture within the context of its site design. On foot, visitors will notice the seven gateways representing the seven continents from which many inhabitants of Fort Smith originated, both past and present, which serve as the entrance to the piece. Our current main library, built in 1970, is 35,000 square feet. The new library is planned to be around 60,000 square feet.