La Grande Vitesse in front of City Hall

In 1967, a new city hall was being built in a blighted area of downtown Grand Rapids. Alexander Calder was commissioned to build a sculpture for the plaza in front of the hall. This sculpture was completed and installed in 1969. Calder named it :the great swiftness" or "grand rapids" after the Grand River, which runs through the center of the city.

It was the first federally funded work of public art in the United States funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, along with private funds. Initially it was vilified by many, and still today some people think it's a monstrosity. But on the whole, it has become a well-known landmark and is frequently used as a symbol of the city.

The steel sculpture is 54 feet long, 43 feet high, and 30 feet wide, and it looks different from every angle. The plaza where it resides is the host for many city activities and this area of downtown has become completely revitalized. Sometimes city planners get something right.

The plaza is officially named "Vandenberg Plaza," after a U.S. Senator from Grand Rapids, but it's usually called "Calder Plaza" (sorry Senator), and the sculpture is commonly referred to as "The Calder." But what's in a name after all.

Thank for you indulging me in my bluebird obsession but they are difficult to resist at least posting a link to. And like yesterday, here is one more.
Five Bluebirds