Grand Rapids sculpture marks fluoridation first
|
Posted Aug. 1, 2007 |
By Stacie Crozier Grand Rapids, Mich.—The simple marble monument commemorating 50 years of community water fluoridation in the city where it all began is gone—making way for a new $120 million hotel.
| |
 |
| |
Steel Water: Cyril Lixenberg stands before his iron sculpture to honor water fluoridation in Grand Rapids. The finished sculpture will be dedicated at the city's new J.W. Marriott Hotel plaza Sept. 14.
|
But, thanks to the efforts of local dentists, community leaders and patrons of the arts, a 33-foot-tall, 10,000-pound steel sculpture now in the iron works will be unveiled as a soaring tribute to water fluoridation this fall in Grand Rapids, a city known for its dedication to the arts and for its notable collection of sculpture.
Cyril Lixenberg, the 74-year-old sculptor, says his work Steel Water pays homage to the city's "exciting" Grand River and the place in history Grand Rapids holds for being the first U.S. city to fluoridate its public water supply to prevent dental caries.
"The design of Steel Water incorporates seven strips of 0.75-inch-thick steel, twisted and tormented and painted blue, that will accent the new glass and steel hotel," said Mr. Lixenberg. The hotel and the sculpture are both set to make their public debuts in September.
"We couldn't have asked for a better spot for this magnificent sculpture," said Dr. James Wieland of the West Michigan District Dental Society. "Placed near the new J.W. Marriott, Steel Water will be in a location where hundreds of thousands of people will see it."
Dr. Wieland and West Michigan Dental Foundation's fluoride commemorative committee hosted a "sneak preview" event April 5 at a Grand Rapids iron works for about 80 dental colleagues, local citizens and donors to the project. The sculpture, he says, will be constructed, assembled, painted, transported and installed by hometown firms.
The artist, born in England and now a citizen of the Netherlands, also claims the Grand Rapids area as his second home, having worked on a variety Michigan-based arts projects since 1983.
The project has received financial support from the ADA, the Michigan Dental Association, the WMDDS, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, the Michigan Academy of Pediatric Dentists and individual donors, said Dr. Wieland, including one dentist who donated $10,000.
The sculpture will be dedicated Sept. 14. For more details, visit the WMDDS Web site: www.wmdds.org  .
|
