Jena, September 29, 2026 – For three decades, the striking steel sculptures by American artist Frank Stella have defined the appearance of Jena’s Ernst-Abbe-Platz. This special anniversary will be celebrated on Thursday, October 29, 2026, with an extensive and interdisciplinary program titled “Stella into the Light”.
- Event: 30 Years of Stella Sculptures in Jena (“Stella into the Light”)
- Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 6:00 PM
- Location: Ernst-Abbe-Platz, Jena
- Admission: Free
- Participants: City of Jena, JENOPTIK AG, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, artists
The anniversary brings together partners from business, science, art, and administration. The event was initiated to bring the artist’s largest sculpture park outside the USA back into the public consciousness. The focus is on the close connection between contemporary art, technological innovation, and the history of the city of Jena.
Connection of Art, Technology, and City History
The presence of the sculptures in Jena is inextricably linked to JENOPTIK AG and the commitment of the then-CEO Lothar Späth, who significantly supported the inauguration of the sculpture park in 1996. The works “Peekskill,” “Bear Mountain,” “Newburgh,” and “Garrison” reflect the industrial hardness and constructive complexity that once inspired Stella during his visits to the Zeiss site, which was undergoing structural change.
The awarding of an honorary doctorate to Frank Stella by the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität in February 1996 formed the academic foundation for this dialogue between industry and fine art. The anniversary is accompanied by the tenth edition of the light and media art series “tangente digital art,” which also begins on October 29 and highlights the work of the artist, who passed away in 2024.
The Anniversary Program: Light, Sound, and Performances
Visitors to the festive evening on October 29 can expect a varied program that allows the sculptures to be experienced in new ways:
- “Echovalley”: The duo Reinhart Hammerschmidt and Tim Helbig use a sculpture as a resonance body, making metallic vibrations audible through live electronics.
- Light Installations: Media artist Robert Seidel covers the steel works with dynamic light projections.
- Student Projects: Works and minimal music by students from the Christliches Gymnasium complement the program.
- Public Debate: The university’s debating society invites guests to exchange views on art in public spaces.
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Detailed hiking map for Jena and the Saale Valley
Discover the surroundings of Jena on well-maintained paths around the Kernberge.
Background: Redesign of Ernst-Abbe-Platz
In the course of the 30th anniversary, the urban development future of the area is also coming into focus. Ernst-Abbe-Platz is to be comprehensively redesigned in the coming years to make it more climate-friendly and attractive. Since the square, framed by tall buildings, heats up significantly on summer days, a main focus is on increasing the proportion of green space and integrated water elements. As part of these measures, the Stella sculptures are to be repositioned and supplemented with information boards to strengthen their dialogue with each other and with visitors. The project is 85 percent co-financed by the federal program “Adaptation of Urban Spaces to Climate Change.”
Source:
30 Years of Stella Sculptures in Jena
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.