A large-scale art installation honoring U.S. soccer player Weston McKennie has been unveiled in Little Elm. The piece is located at Tinman Social, situated at 199 Main St. Little Elm is about 6 miles northwest of The Colony.
Chobani, identified as the official nutrition partner of U.S. Soccer, commissioned the work. The company unveiled three similar installations in the hometowns of different players. The Little Elm artwork is designed to highlight the experiences and people that contributed to McKennie’s career.
Artist Michael Mapes created the collage. He spent several months researching McKennie’s background before assembling the portrait. Mapes described his process as investigating the visual biography of individuals by breaking them down into constituent parts to form a complete image. The goal was to provide a sense of who McKennie is beyond his physical appearance.
The installation consists of dozens of images and objects. These elements represent various chapters of McKennie’s life, including his childhood, family, career milestones, and personal experiences. Mapes stated that his work aims to re-represent a person as a collection of parts that make up a whole.
Visitors to the installation have responded to the display. One attendee noted how the artwork breaks down McKennie’s story like puzzle pieces. Another visitor remarked on the global representation possible regardless of one’s origins.
