“River Soundings” rises as a beacon, plumbing the depths of the Delaware River in Philadelphia. This public art commission, shaped by history and phenomena of the river, conjures an aesthetic resonance of place. The art is inspired by what is considered one of the world's oldest navigational instruments: a device called a lead line, used to measure the depth of waterways. A lead line is a rope marked in 6-foot increments, or fathoms. Vertical elements of the sculpture evoke boat masts and rigging. Each cable symbolizes an individual lead line. Reflective "sounding weights" demarcate the depth of the riverbed, as measured from the top of the sculpture, while the blue discs above them express water. Together, the cables represent the actual depth of the Delaware River adjacent to the site. The cables are arranged in a spiral pattern found in pinecones, honoring the lumber industry that once thrived along this part of the river.

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