Stumbling Blocks

“The sculpture, called “Stumbling Blocks,” had been bought by Josue Rosa, who owns Tu Moda Spa and Salon, 574 Pleasant St., and several neighboring three-deckers. The house immediately beside the day spa had been torn down, and the empty lot would now be home to Mr. Kitchen’s 18-foot-tall, 6,500-pound sculpture. Mr. Rosa said he hopes the striking piece will inspire others to put art where it can be seen by the public.

The piece, hollow blocks of dark-toned steel arranged in a skyward pile, was inspired by a poem the teacher of that long ago English class had read one day to her lower-track students. “She probably thought it was pearls before swine, but I never forgot that poem,” Mr. Kitchen said. “It was about people becoming either a stumbling block or a steppingstone in life, and as I got older I realized how meaningful it was, so that poem is the inspiration for this. Now, it’s a steppingstone for the city, for the community, for everybody. Mrs. Huard, wherever she is, would be happy.”

Visit: 574 Pleasant St, Worcester, MA 01602

Einstein's Onion

Located at Western New England University’s campus; in front of Deliso Hall. This piece was inspired by Albert Einstein’s belief that “imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Anthony S. Caprio, university president, called the location of “Einstein’s Onion” at the center of the campus a “perfect setting” and noted the piece fits in with the school’s mission to grow the arts program.

Barbara Moffat, the university's vice president for marketing and external affairs, added, “The piece really speaks to the convergence of imagination and knowledge and that is exactly what higher education does.”

Visit: Deliso Hall, Western New England College
1215 Wilbraham Rd, Springfield, MA 01119

Magnum Cum Laude

“Kitchen opens an exhibit that explores the interplay of a new set of ideas. “Universal Connections,” at Western New England University (WNEU) in Springfield, features more than two dozen sculptures, each one representing a different academic field, from law to philosophy to marketing to engineering.
It’s the first time he’s exhibited any of his large pieces at a college, Kitchen says, and he’s seized on it as an opportunity to look at the way he’s incorporated ideas from different academic disciplines in his work.”

Magnum Cum Laude remains a permanent installation in their art gallery in the St. Germain Campus Center, which is free and open to the public.

Visit: Western New England University
1215 Willbraham Rd Springfield, MA 01119

Tesla’s toaster

Originally part of an art installation of over 100 sculptures, brought in for MassDevelopment’s rehabilitation project to help revitalize downtown Springfield. Tesla’s Toaster now remains as a permanent installation at 1550 Main St.

Visit: 1550 Main St, Springfield, MA 01103

Pipe Wrench Dreams

Commissioned by The City of Springfield, it is the first piece of public art purchased under their new public art program, organized by Brian Connors.

‘“ We just had two stipulations: we wanted it to be about Springfield history and we wanted it put in the downtown cultural district. The rest was up to the artist,” said Connors.

A sculpture fashioned from more than 400 adjustable wrenches sits in front of the MassMutual Center on Main Street. Local artist James Kitchen…said this work celebrates one of Springfield’s “firsts” – the invention of the wrench.’

Visit: The Mass Mutual Center
1277 Main St, Springfield, MA 01103

Red Flowers

Currently on display at Oxford Free Library along with several other pieces.

Visit: Oxford Free Public Library
339 Main St Oxford, MA 01540