Storm steals statue's seeds
<p>"Allium Spring Chorus" by David Tonnesen had some welds crimp during shipping which caused pieces to fall off during a windstorm. These pieces will be replaced by the Boston based artist later this spring at no cost to the city.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Some of the star shaped "seeds" on one of three stainless steel alliums at the Third Street entrance to McEuen Park have blown away.
"Spring Allium Chorus," a 14-foot kinetic sculpture built by Boston-based artist David Tonnesen, took root last July. Parks and Recreation director Steve Anthony told The Press that the welds on one of the flowers were crimped while the piece was being shipped to Coeur d'Alene.
"We had the one windstorm come up and they started going pretty good because it's a kinetic piece," Anthony said. "Basically what happened is, when it started moving they just snapped. A few of them broke off and what we determined is that it was shipped on that side."
The sculpture was built in a five-month period and includes 2,500 pieces of stainless steel. Tonnesen's design was selected from more than 100 entries by the city and is illuminated at night by violet and gold LEDs.
Anthony added that Tonnesen has built a replacement at no charge and will install the piece later in the spring.
He also offered The Press the "real story" of how the pieces fell.
"Don't you know it's time for the dandelions to sprout and go all over and grow new allium choruses?" Anthony asked with a laugh. "It's an interactive art piece so now all those little things will go out and sprout little ones all over. We're just ahead of our time."