Winddancer II
Artist Michael Westra delivered the library’s new the sculpture on Monday, November 8. The sculpture, titled Winddancer II, was purchased with donations from the Friends of the Library, Jingle Belle 5K Run/Walk for Women, & the Run for Reading. It was installed behind the library on Thursday, November 18.
Artist Michael Westra was awarded 10th place for the design of this sculpture in the 2009 Art Prize international art competition held in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The Artist
Michael Westra lives in Grand Haven, Michigan and is known locally “for his work on repairing the Foucault’s pendulum in Grand Haven High School. The Grand Haven native became interested in sculpture in 2000, after helping to work on the pendulum and the electromagnetic system that keeps it continually swinging.
He also has shown his work in several exhibits, galleries and juried art competitions in Grand Haven, Saugatuck and Spring Lake. In 2003, he had two pieces selected for the “Regional” show at Muskegon Museum of Art. He entered the Art Round Town juried outdoor sculpture exhibit in Saugatuck from 2003-07 and won the Peoples Choice award in 2006.
The Art
“Windancer 2” is a welded 3-D steel kinetic sculpture that moves with the slightest breeze. It is made from steel and stainless steel and stands roughly 11ft tall.