"Recoil" is a public art sculpture designed and crafted by artist Mark Yale Harris. "Recoil" started as a sketch that Yale Harris did during a live drawing and eventually was made into a larger-than-life-size, bronze sculpture. "Recoil" was created to capture the emotion of sinking into oneself for contemplation. The piece depicts an abstract, free-form woman who is meant to be protecting herself from the outside world by blocking her face.

Born in Buffalo, NY, Harris spent his childhood enthralled in a world of drawing and painting. Though honored for his creative endeavors, he was encouraged to pursue a more conventional career. He states, “the artistic passion that existed just beneath the surface of my business persona was finally able to present itself in tangible form upon selling my company in 1996. I began sculpting, and have since created an evolving body of work made up of alabaster, marble, limestone, and bronze. Visit Harris's website at markyaleharris.com
"Recoil" was among the sculptures in the first Art in Roanoke (AIR) temporary exhibition from October 2008 to April 2010. However, the sculpture was donated in 2010 and is permanently located on Wells Avenue, across from The Hotel Roanoke.

About AIR:
Since 2002, the City of Roanoke has designated 1 % of funds for certain capital projects to purchase or display art in the city. The program is overseen by the 19-member Council-appointed Roanoke Arts Commission. Art for Everyone, the city’s first public art plan, was adopted by the City Council in 2006.

AIR is a project of the City of Roanoke’s Percent for Art Program, established to provide public art in city neighborhoods and public places to reflect the community’s vibrancy and heritage.

Sourced from:
Information obtained from documents of the Arts Commission.