f the winning piece of art for the 4th Annual Public Art Competition took place Tuesday at the Bonifas Arts Center. Two industrial, outdoor metal sculptured benches were placed by Dale Wedig, metal sculpture artist and instructor at Northern Michigan University Art Department.
"We are so pleased to have the fourth public art piece go into our garden," said Mollie Larsen, executive director of the Arts Center. Wedig currently has pieces on display in Bay College's permanent collection and is also being featured at Findlandia University with a one-man show.
"To have two of his benches on site is exceptional," Larsen said. Wedig's benches were selected by a panel of local arts supporters in January from a group of five entries.
"It was a difficult choice because we had a number of good applicants," said Pasqua Warstler, director of Education and Gallery at the Arts Center. "But ultimately the vote went to Dale's benches."
Previously, the Bonifas Arts Centers Public Art Competition has placed work in Escanaba's Ludington Park, Gladstone's Van Cleve Park, in front of the Delta County Building and now the Arts Center. Additionally, Bay College placed a piece at the entrance of the Besse Center that had been submitted previously. There are plans to have a 5th annual competition next year and the center is looking for suggestions for where it might be placed. Anyone who might have suggestions can contact Larsen at 786-3833.