Mod Pod
Artist Statement:
Mod Pod is inspired by a vintage toy space capsule crossed with a straw dispenser and retro spinning top. Each level of the sculpture contains different suspended objects to discover. Give each section a gentle spin and peek inside to see the movement of the tiny treasures inside and imagine your own liftoff! The different surface patterns are inspired by textiles from around the world. The colors are inspired by brightly colored vintage toy tops, as well as lighthouses.
About Gail Katz-James
Gail Katz-James is a Minneapolis public artist who transforms steel, wire and recycled objects into playful, colorful sculptures that provoke curiosity and include interactive elements. She designs her work for kids and families. In May 2026, she installed Flock of Houses, a commission for the City of St. Paul on Wheelock Parkway with artist Christopheraaron Deanes. It includes hand-painted enamel “wings” on steel houses and colorful bird legs. Permanent commissions include interactive sculptures, Playful Prisms and Found Treasures, for Children’s Hospitals of Minnesota, and Flour Sack Rack, a sculptural bike rack in Minneapolis in 2018. She created An Owl’s Perspective, a large owl-shaped willow sculpture in 2019. Gail has participated in outdoor sculpture walks since 2017.