The artist with Centrifuge, Burnsville, Minnesota, 2004.
A New Public Art Work by Foster Willey Jr.
THE BEE WAY
West End, City of St. Louis Park, MN
The Bee Way is a unique sculptural plaza and gathering space. It is set in the newly constructed retail complex the West End in St. Louis Park and pays homage to the City’s regional history and the honeybee. The Bee Way consists of two cast stone columns, inset with a honeycomb relief pattern and terra cotta tile. At the top of the columns are kinetic Swarm Sculptures, which are sculpted aluminum forms that represent the whirling flight of bees. These lyrical abstract elements move on a central axis when activated by the wind. A bee wing bench compliments the two columns. As part of this proposal, children from Recreation in the Park Summer Program in St. Louis Park participated in the design process by helping to create the terra cotta tile. Honeycomb paving runs through out the plaza and unifies the sculpted elements. The plaza is dramatically lit for night viewing by in-ground up lights and LED lights at the top of each column. The beehive barbecue (or fireplace) built in the late 30's by the WPA and the Minnesota Department of Highways inspired The Bee Way.
The Bee Way was made possible by the City of St. Louis Park, Duke Realty Corporation, and Jeffrey Anderson Real Estate. Forecast Public Art provided consultation for the project.
