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Arts & Entertainment

Exploring Brighton's Sculpture: Winter '05 and Steel

Patch continues its tour of Brighton's art with sculptures by Doug Gruizenga and Adam Genei.

Last week on our tour of Brighton’s public art, we looked at two sculptures by Israel Nordin, co-owner of the Detroit Design Center.

This week, we’re viewing two more pieces. Both sculptures, though completed by different artists, have homes on North Street.

"Winter ‘05"

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Installed in 2006 as part of the original Brighton Biennial Sculpture Exhibit, "Winter ’05" is one of the most familiar works in the display. Over the years, it has received heavy traffic thanks to its location near the entrance of the parking lot on North Street.

That attention has been both good and bad. To the delight of the artist, Dough Gruizenga, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) purchased the work for $9,600 a few months after its installation.

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Soon afterward, however, the 5-foot-by-7-foot welded aluminum sculpture sustained some damage. In addition to being knocked loose from its base, it acquired a number of dents and scrapes from accidental vehicle impacts.

At the request of the artist, the Brighton Arts and Culture Commission is seeking a new, safer location for "Winter ‘05." It is currently in storage and will likely take the place of Todd Erickson’s " upon removal of that piece from the pocket park at the intersection of Grand River Avenue and Main Street.

"Steel"

Installed near the public parking lot at the intersection of North and West Streets, "Steel" boasts one of the best locations in the Brighton Biennial Sculpture Exhibit. Easily visible to commuters, visitors and other passers-by, its composition also makes it difficult to miss.

Consisting of five rectangular steel columns of various heights, "Steel" calls to mind big-city vistas. Because the columns are otherwise unadorned, they appear as a bold city silhouette with a dark, comic booklike feel.   

Originally listed at $6,000, "Steel" was purchased by the DDA soon after it was installed in 2006 as part of the original Brighton Biennial.  

The artist, Adam Genei, is the owner and founder of Brighton’s Mobsteel, a custom car builder that specializes in 1960s Lincoln Continentals.  

The Brighton Biennial Sculpture Exhibit, a project overseen by the city of Brighton's Arts and Culture Commission, originated in 2006. It consists of 35 sculptures, 12 permanent and 23 temporary. The permanent pieces were either bought by or donated to the city. The temporary pieces, whose duration in Brighton depends on individual contracts with the BACC, are for sale. Prices and details are available at http://www.downtownbrighton.com/1/brighton/art_walk.asp.

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