Those pieces were done at Padnos IXL in Holland, Doug Padnos said. But Artwork is way outside for the norm of what the company does even though Stuart Padnos’ pieces in Holland are well known.

Leitelt Iron also did Lixenberg’s pieces at Holland Hospital, Doug Padnos said. Jim Brooks, chairman of the Public Art Committee, agreed, calling the necessary welds “tricky.” “But guess what, it is that complicated.” “I looked at the (“Uniting Sun”) mockett and thought ‘it’s not that complicated,’” Barnes said. Steel Water was also done by Barnes at Leitelt.

Lixenberg chose Doug Barnes, a employee of Leitelt, to fabricate his latest piece which will stand in the traffic island south of the River Avenue bridge. Lixenberg, who lives in Amsterdam, Netherlands, has several pieces in West Michigan, including Steel Water in Grand Rapids. The legs are all exactly the same, but designed in a way that they appear different from every angle it is viewed. The design includes five legs, holding up a sun. Members of the committee announced in May “Uniting Sun” was the chosen sculpture. Those designs were narrowed to three that were put out for public comment. It was to be something that would unite the various local municipalities and their residents. The design was one of eight that resulted from a call to artists for a piece that speaks to Holland’s cultural diversity. Some climbed a ladder behind the temporary base to see the full view of sculpture lying down. Those present touched it and stepped onto the legs joking it could be a slide, albeit a dirty, rusty and uncomfortable slide. It's dusty with rust.Ĭommittee members walked around it, under it looking at the details in the pieces of the sun. It was draped haphazardly with caution tape. On its side, attached to the base “Uniting Sun” was also held up by a steel table, ladders and sawhorses awaiting welding and its completion.

Walking into the expansive machine shop, it wasn’t obvious, at first, the long pieces of steel jutting out from a tall base were the legs of the sculpture the committee has been working hard to bring to Holland. 9, when several members of the community-driven Celebrating our Diversity Public Art Committee met with artist Cyril Lixenberg at Padnos’ Leitelt Iron in Grand Rapids where it is being fabricated. The 36-foot sculpture - soon to stand in Holland - was whole Tuesday, Sept. Even lying uncompleted on its side, “Uniting Sun” is impressive.

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