Redmond celebrates new public artwork

Redmond residents and visitors have a new piece of public art to enjoy.

The piece, called “Thoughts of Flight,” dedicated Saturday, is located on Highway 126 and Glacier Avenue.

The piece, called “Thoughts of Flight” is located on Highway 126 and Glacier Avenue.

The metal piece is 25 feet tall, has a kinetic spinning top and lights up at night.

The artist, Jerry Werner, says the piece is inspired from a Bible verse in Ecclesiastes that tells about a time for every season in Heaven.

Werner says his piece describes everything humans go through in life. And he hopes those who see it get inspired and encouraged.

“The thing I love about public art, there’s a lot of people that would never go to a museum or a gallery,” he said. “But they see pieces that inspire kids and encourage them in art, and that they see it and go, ‘Wow, that’s great!'”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Centennial Park Saturday to celebrate the new artwork, whose concept has been five years in the making.

This isn’t Werner’s first piece in Central Oregon. He also designed the clock tower in Redmond, and has pieces in the Old Mill District and Farewell Bend Park.

Redmond loves art and on Saturday, the Redmond Commission for Art in Public Places (RCAPP) invited the public to help purchase the next piece.

At Passport to the Arts, people could purchase a “passport” for $25 and then go to each of the six art sculptures in downtown Redmond to get a stamp.

Those that brought the passport back with all six stamps got a commemorative coaster.

The six pieces are on loan from the artists and will leave on July 2013, unless the commission raises money to purchase one.

“It’s really important to have public art, because it does bring people into the community,” said RCAPP Chair Linda Gilmore Hill. “It gives a community a sense of style, and lets them know that we have a lot to offer here in Redmond.”

The commission hoped to raise $9,000 to match the amount already in the bank.

Organizers say they would like to have all the pieces stay.