Thanks to financial planner Paul Hix of South Haven and Michael Morey, Lou Rodriquez’s sculpture “A Moment of Joy” is permanently installed on Phoenix St. in South Haven’s historic downtown district.
Rodriquez fabricated the giant hummingbird and flowers from steel, and used color-shifting paints that shift from green to purple to blue depending on the viewing angle. “It reminds me of the iridescent quality of hummingbirds in nature,” said Rodriquez.
Rodriquez took part in local art competitions while growing up in South Haven, and moved on to creating costumes and movie props as an adult. He participated in a local ice carving contest in 2009, and the experience sparked an interest in sculpture. A welder and steel fabricator at RCI Adventure Products in Holland, Mich., Rodriquez transitioned from ice to steel and fabricated his first piece, “A Dragon for Jonas,” in 2010, which finished in the top 25 at ArtPrize—an international public art competition held every two years in Grand Rapids, Mich. Learn more about Lou.
“A Moment of Joy” is o ne of five sculptures that received seed funding from the South Haven Downtown Development Authority. Through the South Haven Center for the Arts Grow Your Own Sculpture program, sculptures can be donated to the City of South Haven through a tax deductible donation that supports the artist. Pieces by Carolyn Robinson Fink and Kathy Kreager were donated by Hix and Morey, and Dana S. and Teresa R. Getman, respectively.
Two additional pieces are available—Mark Toncray’s “Dune Anchor” in front of Black River Tavern, and John Sauve’s “Faust” across the street from Clementine’s. Anyone who is interested can email info@southhhavenarts.org.
The South Haven Center for the Arts’ effort to add art to downtown continues. Another artist stipend for the Grow Your Own Sculpture program is currently available. Those interested in submitting a proposal can download the RFP here. For additional questions, please send an email to info@southhavenarts.org.
Image from left, South Haven Center for the Arts Executive Director Kerry Hagy, Paul Hix of the Edward Jones Office of Paul Hix in South Haven, and “Moment of Joy” sculptor Lou Rodriquez. Photo courtesy of Tom Renner.
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