Art Center Announces Installation of “Touched by the Sun”
If you’ve taken our advice and visited the Sioux City Art Center to see the Michael Dunbar exhibit, then you’ve probably seen the huge banner announcing the upcoming installation of his “Touched by the Sun” sculpture on the front lawn.
That day has come. The Sioux City Art Center announced this week that the sculpture, which measures 14′ tall x 14′ wide x 12′ deep, will be installed on Wednesday, September 11th, starting in the morning and possibly taking several hours to complete.
Mr. Dunbar has been one of the Midwest’s most respected sculptors for over thirty years. His sculptures are distinguished by their impeccable craftsmanship and their ability to connect to a wide range of ideas related to exploration. Many have found references to historic nautical instruments, Space Age satellites, and other scientific devices—all carefully crafted with the precision of fine timepieces.
The bronze sculpture will arrive in polished form, but is designed to shift in colors over the years as the weather and other environmental factors interact with the metal.
The process to bring this sculpture to Sioux City began more than two years ago, when the Art Center asked artists in the upper Midwest to submit their qualifications to create a large-scale sculpture for the Art Center’s lawn. Michael Dunbar was one of four finalists who created a site-specific model to propose for the site. He was awarded the commission in January 2012 and has been working hard in his studio and with the machinists who fabricate his precise sculptures.
Art Center Director Al Harris-Fernandez says, “I am excited by the arrival of Touched by the Sun. Michael Dunbar has done a masterful job of creating a sculpture that complements the beauty of the Art Center building, while maintaining a strong connection to his own unique style.”
The sculpture will be placed on a large, circular, concrete pedestal. Lighting has already been installed to allow the sculpture to be viewed at night. Additional landscaping elements will be placed to augment the setting for the sculpture.
This commission has been supported financially by the M. A. Martin Everist Foundation, with additional support provided by the Heffernan Fund, the Gilchrist Foundation, the City of Sioux City, and the Art Center Association of Sioux City.
About the Author
Nakia Tyler Nakia is a Web Specialist at Team Creative Fire. When she isn’t exercising her creative muscle, she spends her time fan-girling over Doctor Who, playing with her adorable niece, and channeling her inner Hello Kitty. If you see her out and about having adventures, feel free to say hi. She’ll probably be wearing pink.
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