“Phenomenon,” an outdoor sculpture, and “The Book-loving Dragon,” a suspended piece in the children’s area of Maple Grove Library, were funded by the One Percent for Art initiative and celebrated June 2.
“I wanted to draw on the ephemeral qualities of nature as a visual metaphor for the creative process and the alchemy of ideas and images within the context of the library,” says Phenomenon artist Janet Lofquist.
Inspired by natural phenomena, the sculptural form alludes to temporal events as a way of suggesting this process. Impressions might include a rush of water as a metaphor for the flow of knowledge. Or, as a gestural expression, it might call to mind a brief gust of wind scattering the essence of an idea. With the piece silhouetted against the sky, one might imagine a comet as a fleeting moment of light.
The sculpture consists of a matrix of welded stainless steel rods. Contained within the structure are glass “rocks” with crystallized surfaces that catch glints of sunlight. Light conditions and seasonal change add to the visual dynamics of the sculpture, with snowfall enhancing its textural qualities.
Just as writers have used words to engage us, the intent of the sculpture is to create an experience that engages the viewer and stretches the imagination. The artwork defiantly creates a dramatic first impression to the library.
