SPACE announces public art winner

(Photo submitted) William Lieb's sculpture "Letting Go" will be the first public work of art commissioned by SPACE.

The Spencer Alliance for a Creative Economy (SPACE) has selected a winner in the first SPACE Public Work of Art Project. The purpose of the project was to commission a public work of art in Spencer from an area artist. A total of seven entries were submitted by five artists. A committee composed of members of the SPACE board, two artists, and representatives from the community made the final selection. Funding for the art will be provided by SPACE and a Renaissance Initiative Grant from the city of Spencer.

The winning entry was submitted by sculptor William Lieb, a Spirit Lake native who returned to the area after retiring from a career as an architect. Called "Letting Go," it will be constructed of laser-cut steel plates and stand 11 feet high. The final location for the sculpture has not yet been decided, but it will be completed by April 1, 2010.

"Letting Go" depicts a child lost in the excitement of his imagination as he releases a toy airplane. The sculpture is part of Lieb's "Sketch Kids" series. The artist describes the series as "oversized, abstract figurative sculptures depicting children lost in the exuberance of play. They are designed to transport the viewer into a new reality."

Lieb also submitted a model for a second sculpture, "Freedom's Moment," which actually consists of two sculptures, one depicting a child with a kite and the other a child holding the kite string. (This sculpture, while not an entry in this competition because of its cost, was meant to complement Lieb's winning sculpture.)

Louis (Tony) Curiel, Todd Kooker, Simeon Lisk and Jim Schooley also submitted entries. Four pieces were designed to be located outside the Spencer Municipal Utilities offices. Tony Curiel entered a whimsical piece called "Spigot," which would be constructed of stainless steel and cast glass and illuminated with argon and neon. Todd Kooker submitted designs for three abstract steel sculptures titled "The Family," "Forces" (a mobile-like piece depicting forces of nature), and "Two Rivers."

Two artists' entries were designed for placement at the Spencer Public Library. Simeon Lisk created a model of an aquarium full of whimsical glass fish for the children's section of the library. Jim Schooley's design was a large sculpture of Dewey Readmore Books, the Spencer library cat, to be placed outside the library.

Drawings and models of all the entries will be on display in the front window at Arts on Grand until mid-May. The committee hopes that other local organizations will decide to adopt some of the other works, which will help beautify Spencer while supporting and encouraging local artists.