Unveiling of "Eddies"

Fabrication of the 16 foot tall Eddies was completed in the studio in the fall of 2020, but the piece hibernated in storage through the winter before traveling to its permanent home in the beautiful new Haymarket Plaza in Eau Claire, WI. As it turned out, it was worth the wait and installation was completed in time for Eau Claire’s celebration of the arts this year throughout the month of May, including an event with live music and the unveiling of the Eddies in the plaza as a culmination of Wisconsin’s Creative Economy Month.

Spectrum West on Wisconsin Public Radio - Interview with Michael Szabo and Jo Ellen Burke, president of the Eau Claire Arts Council

Serving as the central public feature of the newly built Haymarket Plaza, the two sweeping loops of Eddies interact with each other and the viewer, evoking the swirling synergy of the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers as they converge at the site. The studio worked closely with the city staff and project landscape architect to integrate the concept and aesthetic of the sculpture into the overall vision for the plaza. The resulting experience reflects the tight-knit community of Eau Claire and their love for the arts.

Photo credits: Tina Ecker