Most everyone now knows Downtown Ferndale has a red ram (nee Belier Rouge) at West Nine & Livernois, but did you know it also has a Bird, a Flameno dancer, a steelfern and an F9 monkey?

 
The above are just five of 11 new sculptures that comprise ARTWN-The Exhibit, works of art that now dot Downtown Ferndale and will be a part of its urban streetscape for the next two years.  The exhibit is sponsored by MotorCity Casino Hotel with additional site support by ten Ferndale businesses and fans, plus the A-List - an assortment of public art afficionados. 

The A-Listers are the site sponsors of Steve Cannaert's "Bird", featured in today's photo.  This sculpture is located in Schiffer Park, at the corner of Planavon and West Nine Mile Rd.  Once you know its name, you may see a resemblance!  See more on this sculpture below. 

It's not too late to get your name (or to honor someone else) on the A-list. For $100, you can publicly support public art and join those already committed to it including Royal Cleaning Services, Carol Jackson, JayneMarie Hubanks, The Sheppard-Decius Family and Dale & Christine Hughes.   Call the DDA at 248-546-1632 to get listed.

Additional sculpture sponsors include a list of great businesses and true friends including Blumz by JR Designs, Credit Union One, Dino's Restaurant & Catering, Flip,  Garden Fresh Gourmet, Minser's Collision, One-Eyed Betty's & Rosie O'Gradys,  Rust Belt Market, State of the Art Framing & Gallery and Tami Gleason - Live-Laugh-Love.

Look for the sculptures all around town.  Several provide unexpected surprises in familiar places - the pedestrian alley, turning a corner or dominating a Woodward median; others at first blend in, until you joyfully realize they are there.  Check them all out and share your favorites with the DDA on facebook.  A map to the sculptures is available at www.DowntownFerndale.com. Also, future eblasts will feature a sculpture -- and a little bit about the piece and its sponsors. 

About "Bird" and its creator Steve Cannaert

Mr. Cannaert began his career as a master welder and craftsman in the automotive industry and now uses those same skills to create his art.  His philosophy about his work:  "History is constantly repeating itself and the more that we try to distance ourselves from the past, the more we are bound to it in the future.  My work is a culmination of art historical references and exploration of my relationship to the past."