Ales Vesely dead; Czech artist known for sculptures was 80
Czech sculptor Ales Vesely stands in front of his sculpture -- a rail heading for heaven -- commemorating Jewish transports during World War II at the Prague-Bubny railway station, a departure station for those taken to concentration camps, on March 3, 2015. Credit: AP / Michal Kamaryt
PRAGUE — Ales Vesely, a Czech artist known for his monumental sculptures, has died at age 80.
Tomas Kraus, secretary of the Federation of Jewish Communities, said Wednesday that Vesely was found dead in his Prague apartment Monday. No cause was given.
Vesely’s huge artworks, made of welded metal sometimes in combination with stone and wood, have been displayed worldwide. They are in collections of major museums, including New York City’s Guggenheim and Paris’ Georges Pompidou Center. Some are in public spaces in South Korea, the Netherlands, Germany and elsewhere.
Among his recent installations, Vesely in March unveiled a train track pointing to the sky called the Gate of Infinity at a former railway station in Prague from which Czech Jews were sent in transports to Nazi death camps during World War II.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
