Reading Cones-Grant Park, Chicago

This sculpture by Richard Serra epitomizes the minimalist genre. To the untrained eye, it is just a big steel arch. But, in the artist's mind, the arch symbolizes the world's many elements coming together into a single, clean and elegant whole. Even if the symbolism of Reading Cones is lost on the passerby, the difficulty of Serra's technique should be appreciated. Steel does not bend easily, so molding it into a sleek arch is considered an impressive feat of engineering. Serra is considered one of the first sculptors to create minimalist art. This sculpture, which takes its name from Reading, Pennsylvania, where it was created, heralded the genesis of the minimalist sculpture movement in many regards.