This sculptural steel staircase is composed of the architectural terms that are used to describe its construction. The basic function of a staircase is to bridge a large vertical distance by dividing it into smaller vertical distances, or steps. Each step has a tread, a horizontal surface that is stepped on and which bears our weight, and a rise, the vertical distance traveled between steps. The words “rise” and “tread,” and the form they create in combination, embody the ideals and efforts necessary for social progress. It was created to inspire and empower the allies and advocates of gender equality, Black Lives Matter, and the LGBTQ+ community.
