Sounding Stones

"Sounding Stones", a grouping of 5 concrete sculptures, was commissioned by the Omaha Public Art Commission using funds donated by the J. Doe Project (2001). To create the installation, the artist sewed unique fabric forms for each of the 5 stones, which were then used by Artisan Stone to cast the concrete sculptures.

Iwai writes in her artist statement, "The location of these stones in Omaha-a city in the middle of our nation-is important. Soundings are taken in the middle of a body of water to measure its depth. The open core of each stone is to be a place for crying out. God proposes for all people to break complacency and praise Him. But, even 'if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out' (Luke 19:40)"

Each stone bears a single word-humility, submission, simplicity, community, or brokenness-and has a hollow center meant to encourage passers-by to rest within them. According to Iwai, "The sculpture installation invites and challenges us to consider our character and seeks to provide a place of play, interaction, listening, and voicing" (Wayne State Magazine, Summer 2006)

Originally located in midtown Omaha's Turner Park, the installation was re-located to Elmwood Park in 2007 when the Mutual of Omaha Midtown Crossing Development incorporated the park into a mixed-used design.