ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Use some caution if you're heading to the St. Pete Pier downtown: The suspended sculpture that billows above guests as they walk around the area has fallen to the ground.
It happened Tuesday evening, June 11, St. Pete officials said last week on Facebook. According to the post, the sculpture "Bending Arc" by Tampa Bay native Janet Echelman was damaged after a "non-structural rope" frayed and then broke.
City teams are reportedly working with the artist to come up with a plan to repair the sculpture.
Officials did not give details about what may have caused the rope to become damaged and break. The June 13 post did say repairs were expected to start the week of June 17.
Those who walk around the Pier will likely see the sculpture on the ground with caution tape securing the area. Officials are asking people to "respect the area" and enjoy other parts of the Pier.
The St. Pete Pier, its playground and businesses are still open and operating as normal, officials said.
"Bending Arc" was installed in 2020 and consists of more than 1.6 million knots and 180 miles of twine. The aerial sculpture spans 424 feet and measures 72 feet at its peak. The city's deal with Echelman for the sculpture was reportedly $1.4 million.