David Barr Sculpture "Sonata"

Novi resident David Barr has created hundreds of sculptures in his lifetime that are on display all over the world.

But until last week, the place he has called home for 30 years had never showcased his work.

Now "Sonata," a 16-foot sculpture built in 1999, is the first piece people will see when they enter Fuerst Park from the Novi High School parking lot.

Barr loaned the sculpture to the city, but "my hope is it never leaves here," he said.

"It's a wonderful feeling for me and I'm overjoyed to do it," he said. "I'd like to do more and leave some identity here."

Sonata most recently was on display at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University.

The piece is a musical representation, one of Barr's many passions, and a series of mathematical rhythms. Barr said a lot of his work is based on geometrical designs and mathematics, and with Sonata, he wanted to "make something with a natural grace."

Barr's sculpture is the seventh on display at the Public Sculpture Exhibit at Fuerst Park and the Novi Civic Center, joining "Large Graceful Dancer," "Blast," "Once Bitten and Twice Shy," "The Lollypop Tree," "Ornythopterus" and "The Surveyor."

The sculptures will be on display until April.

"Sonata is a perfect addition to the Novi Parks Sculpture Exhibit," said Lauren Sorrentino, performing arts coordinator for the city of Novi. "We placed the sculpture near the amphitheater where we have our summer arts series, to reflect the musical energy of the piece."

One of Barr's most famous pieces is the 64-foot "Transcending" monument in Hart Plaza he helped create with Sergio De Giusti in 2003,
"My feeling is industry turns the world and the world turns industry," Barr said. "And there is a gap in it because it's never finished."

Barr said he hopes when people see his work it makes them think.

"I'm not interested in making sculptures that people already know what they mean," he said. "There's no new experience to it. What interests me is providing a new way of seeing things."