A new fundraising project has been launched to retain the Man In Motion sculpture — created by well-known local sculptor Denis Kleine — in Nelson.
The sculpture was created for the 2012 Castlegar Sculpturewalk. During 2013 it was sponsored by the City of Nelson while located on Baker Street.
Kleine said he “tried to capture the kinetic, mechanistic movement Duchamp achieved in his seminal canvas. Through the enveloping layers — kind of like frames of a stop motion picture — I convey motion and movement.”
Kleine works in stone and bronze primarily, but is also an award-winning team member in snow, ice and sand sculpture competitions around the world.
Motivated by the sculpture’s theme of movement “What makes us move, is what makes us think,” the McDonnell Family leased this public art piece and relocated it to the Nelson & District Community Complex entrance in April 2014.
“Since I first viewed the sculpture on Baker Street, I have had an emotional connection to it. Its message is a reminder that our bodies and brains were meant to move. With concerns regarding Alzheimer’s Disease, mental wellness and obesity, motivating people to move is essential. A further personal influence is Rick Hansen.”
Now is an opportunity for people in Nelson to invest in the community by supporting public art. To cover the cost of purchasing the original 36 inch sculpture, smaller, 12 inch bronze models, on a granite base, are for sale.
The sale will be limited to 10 replicas at a cost of $3,000 each.
The replica can be viewed at Touchstones Nelson Museum of Art and History, 502 Vernon Street. For further information, please contact Bill McDonnell at 250-825-4264.