German artist's sculpture in front of Ann Arbor city hall to be unveiled in two weeks
Ann Arbor officials are inviting the public to a dedication ceremony in two weeks as they unveil a German artist's public art installation in front of city hall.
Herbert Dreiseitl, whose $750,000 sculpture project is expected to be finished soon, will be on hand for the event, which starts at 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at 301 E. Huron St.
The sculpture was commissioned as part of the city’s development of the Ann Arbor Municipal Center, which includes the new Justice Center building and a newly renovated city hall.
A rendering of what the sculpture will look like.
Courtesy of City of Ann Arbor
Though controversy has surrounded the selection of a German artist to complete the project, it's said to be locally inspired — planned by Quinn Evans Architects and InSite Design, both of Ann Arbor. Several Michigan-based contractors also worked on the project.
Future Group from Warren was the main fabricator. Lighting and water technology was subcontracted to CAE from Hamburg. The bronze material came from Clarkston Fine Arts Centre in Clarkston, and the casting was subcontracted to Wolverine Bronze in Warren.
Dreiseitl, founder of Atelier Dreiseitl, is described as an internationally renowned sculptor, artist and interdisciplinary planner with three decades of experience. His design firm’s practice specializes in integrating art, urban hydrology, environmental engineering and landscape architecture within urban contexts.
Dreiseitl has created projects in the Netherlands, Austria, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia and Dubai. In 1999, he designed and built a green roof for Chicago’s city hall.
His other designs include parks in Portland, Seattle and Pittsburg. In 2003, he contributed to a water park and water recycling system in Hangzhou, China, and he has been working on an urban master plan for Tianjin, China, since 2003.
The unveiling of Dreiseitl's sculpture comes as an intense debate continues to surround the city's Percent For Art Program, which funds public art.
(This story has been revised to remove incorrect information regarding past work that Dreiseitl has done.)
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
swcornell
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 5:35 a.m.
A water feature in a city that is below freezing for most of 5 months every year???
Elaine F. Owsley
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 12:10 p.m.
And it cost three time what the stated max is for each "art" work for the city. I'm not sure what it is supposed to inspire, but it's apparent what it has cost taxpayers. It still is basically a column sticking out of some water that lights up. Hardly worth seeing "unveiled".
pegret
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.
Touche' CBG!
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 12:14 p.m.
Hopefully it will inspire people to use their brains next election.
Alan Goldsmith
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 10:32 a.m.
Meanwhile, why not link to the Washtenaw County government article today about cutting funds to the Huron Street homeless shelter? The Mayor has made Ann Arbor, yet again, a pathetic laughing stock. Thanks.
Alan Goldsmith
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 10:30 a.m.
Thanks for cutting and pasting the press release.
rob
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 2:53 a.m.
Gonna have to drink a lot of beer and stroll down to visit at about 3:30 some morning. Where do I wash my hands?
Roadman
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 12:55 a.m.
The police/court building and the Dreiseitl projects were the two most colossal wastes of taxpayers' funds in the history of the City of Ann Arbor. The water art project made national news on the laughable inanity of a city laying off fire fighters and rolling back other essential services while purchasing a $770,000.00 art piece to decorarte a municipal building. Now citizens being evicted from their homes in the District Court can marvel at this magnificent art paid for by their tax dollars as they leave the court with eviction judgments in hand. At least it may cheer them up. Don't blame me. I supported Ask Voters First.
aamalcontent
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 11:32 p.m.
Mayor Daley faced the same barrage of criticism for Millennium Park. CAVE people (Citizens Against Virtually Everything) are not big on the "vision thing." Thankfully he was. Why not withhold judgment on this thing, at least until it's finished?
LA
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 3:24 p.m.
it's not the Ann Arbor way.....
pegret
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 3:12 p.m.
Amen, CBG & ttc. The only thing I can say about it is that it at least matches the building it will be installed at. Fugly, fugly, fugly.
treetowncartel
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 3:33 a.m.
it might have done beetter as a portage over State Street at the Stadium bridge. Look around you man, $750 k could go pretty far. City Hall was fine before with parking outfront, now you can't even do that. You have to park at meter to pay your fine for parking at a meter, and your water bill, yet we waste water right out front. Its callled city SERVICE for a reason.
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 11:54 p.m.
Why? Is is suddenly going to change to a $10,000 project built by a local artist and paid for by private money between now and then?
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 11:11 p.m.
Like I've said before... for $750,000 one would think the guy would build it himself, instead of get other people to build it for him. What did we pay him all that money for? It can't be for the design of the thing. That's only worth about $7.99.
nowayjose
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 11:07 p.m.
They should invite the four laid off officers to do their own dedication ceremony.
observer
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 10:53 p.m.
the city that claims to be the best, has no common sense.......trying once again to polish their tarnished image....are you happy Mr. Mayor and the well educated city council for spending money that is needed elsewhere.......
sbbuilder
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 9:23 p.m.
I'd like to be first in line to take a leak.
Sparty
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 8:40 p.m.
It's outrageous that this much money is being paid for art from outside of Ann Arbor when we have our own huge, talented art community that would likely be honored to work on local art projects at significantly lower cost -- or we could also work with our UM partner and have their art students design and develop art projects throughout A2 that would bring joy and recognition to both the university and the city. But I guess that's too much thinking out of the box for a city council that is only focused on sitting around thinking of ways to collect and spend more money (the latest being this stupid pedestrian crosswalk travesty).
lynel
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 8:28 p.m.
I wonder how many of Herbert Dreiseitl's projects have been paid for by private and/or corporate donations vs. public tax payers money?
grye
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 8:15 p.m.
Interesting design. A tall straight long object sticking almost straight up with liquid flowing from it. Can anyone come up with an iconic name for this soon to be "erected" art object?
janeqdoe
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 8:10 p.m.
My first three ideas were Richard, Adonis, or John.
pegret
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 3:08 p.m.
Gladly, grye. If they hire an (hopefully local) artist to paint something on it, they could call it a Murinal.
Dot
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 1:21 a.m.
no worries Charlie, A2's full of them.
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 11:07 p.m.
We didn't want Ypsilanti to be the only one with one.
xmo
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 7:49 p.m.
Ryan: Can you also write an article about the engineering, design and manufacturing of a Honda/Nissan Kia and why a UAW member should buy it over a Ford or GM? You are pretty good at this stuff!
grye
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 8:47 p.m.
In the past, that would have been very easy. Finally Ford and GM realized that they need to produce a quality product to compete with the oversee's crowd.
ArgoC
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 7:27 p.m.
I didn't know "local" firms Quinn Evans and InSite Design "planned" this thing. Where have their voices been, in all this?
tommy_t
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 7:25 p.m.
Bring some leaves you may have to cover it up.
Cash
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 7:21 p.m.
A direct insult and slap in the face to every talented artist in this area. City powerful.....you ought to be ashamed! Snubbing our local talent is a disgrace and is really anti Ann Arbor and anti Michigan. So much for supporting local business.
Morgan
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 7:26 p.m.
Amen. With all the A2 artists, you'd think one of them would qualify for this.
treetowncartel
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 7:08 p.m.
A bathtub for the homeless, a urinal for the imbibers, a baptismal fountain for future elected officials and administrators and a black sheep for the stewards of the tax payer's money all rolled into one.
Marilyn Wilkie
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 7:01 p.m.
Great minds think alike -
Goober
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 6:51 p.m.
I think that all Ann Arbor voters, tax payers and citizens should not attend this dedication. Let those who voted for this waste of tax payer dollars attend, which would be city council and our mayor.
ypsicat
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 6:30 p.m.
Get out the popcorn, this'll be fun.