Client: Foth Company

Overview

This vibrantly colored butterfly-on-flowers steel sculpture is a focal point in the park-like setting outside this office building. The outgoing CEO of Foth Company made this contribution to the employees and history of the company. The company was instrumental in the foundation of The Einstein Project an experiential STEAM education service for schools that began in 1990. Some of the learning units are nature based and study the life cycles of animals, including butterflies. This 76″ tall x 64″ wide x 67″ long steel sculpture with automotive paint finish delights employees and people using the nature trail, and sitting on the outdoor patio having their lunches.

Goals

The goals for this project were to beautify the outdoor space for employees and people using the nature trail. The sculpture also honors the ongoing collaborative support the company has with the Einstein Project. In 1990, a former CEO helped to found the Einstein Project as an innovative experiential based STEAM education service for schools. Butterflies became a symbol for the Einstein Project during the 2010's when aluminum butterfly forms were painted and decorated by local artists and auctioned at fundraisers for the Einstein Project.

The life cycle of the butterfly is used as a teaching unit as one of The Einstein Projects STEAM experiential learning kits.

Process

The client was familiar with my work and asked me to design a fitting sculpture for the new office building they were completing. We both agreed that a butterfly would be a meaningful reminder of the company's commitment to the Einstein Project. I coordinated with the building contractor for placement of the concrete base and the mounting hardware and orientation in the concrete.