The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts staff had poured a new two-foot-thick sidewalk and added for the sculpture a slightly raised platform with mounting plate with a set of eight bolts that Kevin had made and shipped ahead.
After traveling 2-1/2 days, the truck arrives right on time, and the crane was right behind it.
Kevin and the truck drivers unstrap the pedestal and sculpture. The crane reaches over a tree and plucks the pedestal off the truck and lowers it toward the pedestal.
After Kevin adjusts one of the bolts with a couple of light taps on nuts that had been screwed onto the offending bolt, the pedestal is lowered into place. Kevin unbolts and removes the lifting gear he’d built for the pedestal. Then Whitaker Center Director of Facilities John Karl, who is more than 6 feet tall, climbs inside and bolts down the 1,260-pound pedestal.
Next the crane operator lifts the 1,100-pound sculpture, swings it over the tree and neatly onto the pedestal. It bolts into place with four bolts.
Don’t miss the video of the installation of this sculpture and the entire series on the creation of this sculpture.