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MAKING WAVES<br />
-A brief history of the City’s newest sculpture by Professor James LaMalfa<br />
Enjoy The Great Wave, an 18 foot sculpture at the intersection of Ely St./Main St./Newberry Av/Church St.<br />
The idea for a large laminated wood sculpture was sparked by my viewing of a block print made by the master Japanese<br />
wood cut artist Hokusai, entitled “The Great Wave Of Kanagawa”. The print depicts a giant wave about crash down onto<br />
a boat with fishermen frantically trying to escape. Mount Fuji sits serenely in the distance. I did not copy the image as<br />
much as use the idea of waves to create a drawing then a scale model of the sculpture. I took my idea to City Engineer<br />
Brian Miller who approved it, then to the then mayor Denise Ruleau who also approved it. After that I costed out the<br />
sculpture and began raising money from donors, among them Bank Mutual, Winsert and myself. Our new mayor Steve<br />
Genisot continued the support I enjoyed with Denise. The City contributed to the installation cost once the piece had<br />
been completed. I worked closely with the good folks at Wildlife Décor LLC, highway 64 and Andreas Rhude at Sentinel<br />
Structures, Peshtigo to create the piece. The City Council of Marinette and the Civic Affairs Committee were also<br />
involved. Once the laminated southern yellow pine elements of the piece were cut out and delivered to the City’s wood<br />
shop Brian contacted Mike Beal to plan the installation of the piece which is made up of sections of treated wood and<br />
stainless steel. We were able to work into November 2015 because of the mild fall weather. The piece is totally finished<br />
with the installation of lights at the base that illuminate the sculpture at night and dramatically highlight its flowing lines.<br />
As an artist I particularly enjoy designing public art so that all the public may enjoy it not just gallery goers. I<br />
created a large stainless steel fish sculpture at Menominee’s Waterfront Park, two pieces on the Fine Art’s<br />
Building at the UW and murals in both City Halls. I am presently working with the City of Marinette and<br />
Marinette Marine to design and place a new stainless steel sculpture near Marinette Marine illustrating LCS 5,<br />
the USS Milwaukee, a welder, logger and our lighthouse.<br />
~ Professor James LaMalfa, emeritus, UW<br />
Photo of our local artist Jim LaMalfa in front of “Waves” Sculpture
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