Local Artist works on giant sculpture in Poland

Bill Gould, public artist and Bay Area native, CA, has launched an ambitious Kickstarter campaign to construct a large public art piece in Lublin, Poland. He needs $30,000 USD for the final fabrication and installation costs; even the smallest donation helps.  The sculpture, titled Maki (meaning Poppy in Polish), is a 24 foot tall (8 meter high) representation of 5 poppy flowers. “The red poppy is a symbol of hope and solidarity for the Polish people”, Gould explains. Made of steel, blown glass, and hand-made ceramic tiles, Gould hopes to see the piece installed this summer at a small park located within the Czuby Housing District.

The sculpture is rather unique in its construction because “local people are involved in the process of creating it”, says Arek Szwed, local ceramic artist and workshop leader. Szwed has been leading free workshops for members of the community to create the 700 ceramic tiles that will hang from the poppies’ petals, and move in the breeze.

To learn more or donate, visit the Maki Kickstarter page: http://kck.st/1a81EYA