Sculptor Arny Nadler works on a 50-foot-long outdoor sculpture called “Whelm” outside of Gallery 210 on UMSL’s North Campus. (Photo by August Jennewein)

The metal mound taking shape outside of Gallery 210 on the University of Missouri–St. Louis campus will become a 50-foot-long outdoor sculpture called “Whelm.”

It should be complete by the end of the week. When the sculpture is finished it’ll be made up of more than two miles of rebar.

The sculpture is the brainchild of sculptor Arny Nadler, an associate professor of art at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. Nadler’s goal is to make art out of plain and commonplace materials. The rebar build upon each other giving the piece mass and form.

A reception for “Whelm” will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 6.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Gallery 210 is located on UMSL’s North Campus. Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The gallery has posted additional photos of Nadler’s installation on its Facebook page.