Happy birthday, Kokomantis!
Internet star, work of art turns 10
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A famous Kokomo landmark recently celebrated its 10th birthday. Kokomantis, the metal sculpture made from reclaimed airplane parts and traffic signals, has stood guard over the intersection of Sycamore and Washington streets in downtown Kokomo for 10 years, as of late last year.
Fortune Companies president Scott Pitcher, who was given the commission for the sculpture in 2012, said, “We were working with the city on public art works, and we came up with it as an art piece that was different, but cool.”
Coincidentally, as social media started to boom in 2012 and 2013, Kokomantis also became a star on the internet. Pitcher said that a Google search for Kokomo turns up Kokomantis as one of the first results. Shortly after the sculpture’s unveiling, Kokomantis had its own Facebook page, with several hundred followers, though the page has since closed down.
The Atlas Obscura Travel Guide website, a forum that lists unique places to visit around the world, describes the Kokomantis as “a 22-foot long, 17-foot high sculpture …” and that “the torso and wings were fashioned from WW2 fuel pontoons and the legs composed of traffic light poles.”
Though Atlas Obscura notes that a sign is posted stating, “Please don’t climb on me,”
in June 2014 MTV’s Jackass television program comedian Stephen Glover, known worldwide by his stage name of Steve-O, visited Kokomo while performing at the Laugh House, a former downtown comedy venue. Before his show, Steve-O decided to climb up the sculpture’s torso and sat for videos and pictures at the neck, calling Kokomantis an “epic landmark” on his social media accounts.
Kokomantis is more than a curiosity for many people. It is a work of art. But after the construction and installation, Pitcher noted that at first, “nobody knew just what to think about it.”
Kokomo Mayor Tyler Moore echoed that sentiment, saying the sculpture was at the time “odd and unique” and that there were “mixed feelings it received when it first arrived.”
“Now, Kokomantis is one of the city’s “must-sees” for visitors and locals alike and has been a great cornerstone to the efforts given to the arts in our community,” said Moore.
IU Kokomo Assistant Professor of Arts and New Media Gregory Steel noted the importance of public displays of art in our community like the Kokomantis,
“Public art in Kokomo not only enriches the lives of our community members and visitors to Kokomo; but also makes a statement about what Kokomo thinks of itself,” Steel continued. “A commitment to the public art program in Kokomo lets all who live here and visit know that Kokomo cares about the town and people's lives.”
Moore appreciated that the sculpture has led to other installations and works of art displayed in downtown.
“Our beloved Kokomantis has quickly become one of Kokomo’s most fun and featured treasures,” said Moore. “It has been guarding our downtown’s gateway from the west for 10 years now. Happy birthday, Kokomantis!”