'A lot of washers and crimps'

COEUR d'ALENE - The first time David Tonnesen saw a patch of allium, he couldn't believe it was real.

"I was raised in a really dense city environment," he said. "I saw a planting of alliums and I thought they looked fake. I thought 'this just can't be real.'"

Tonnesen, who is from Boston, Mass., said he couldn't wait to sculpt some. That was the beginning of the "Spring Allium Chorus" sculpture that was erected Wednesday morning at the southeast corner of Third Street and Front Avenue.

Tonnesen said the 14-foot sculpture should be completed by the end of this week. The kinetic sculpture was built in a five-month period and includes 2,500 pieces of stainless steel.

"That's a lot of washers and crimps," he said. "There are 700 stars on those flowers."

He said the concrete base will be buried about 2 feet below ground and then landscaped over the top. Violet and gold LEDs will be installed to illuminate the sculpture at night.

"I am pretty happy. I am really psyched about seeing this in the evening," he said. During the day, he added, the stainless steel reflects all of the colors around it.

Tonnesen said he was excited to be selected from more than 100 entries. He has been erecting sculptures all over the country for the past 20 years, and he said Coeur d'Alene is one of his favorite locations.

"It's not too shabby; you just can't beat this," he said of the location. "I should have brought my wife with me."

Tonnesen left his wife behind on this trip because he thought things would be much more hectic, but installation actually went smoother than expected.

"Making the art is only about 75 percent of this stuff," he said, adding the other 25 percent is securing the commission and erecting the artwork. "But I've been working with some pretty fine people to get this done."