.
The pillar in Ferndale is
adorned with art panels
that include auto and local
history.
The official lighting party is from 5:30 to 9 p.m. today.
(JEFF NOVAK/Special to the Free Press)
Ferndale's Woodward pillar is a celebration of history
BY BILL LAITNER • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • September
18, 2008
Starting tonight, Woodward Avenue will have a glowing landmark.
In daylight, a new 30-foot pillar of glass -- which features artwork
celebrating the auto history -- is easy to spot, one-half mile north of 9
Mile in the Ferndale median. But interior lights gave the translucent
artwork a striking glow Tuesday night during a test of its solar
collectors.
Walking his dog during Tuesday's test, Chris Laux, 57, of Ferndale
said, "I've been trying to figure out what that is."
Tonight, the tower is to come aglow for good during a celebration and
fund-raiser across the street, to be emceed by WDIV Local 4 anchor
Devin Scillian. The pillar will be lit for seven hours nightly, starting
at dusk, said installer Chuck Veres, with Harmon Sign Co. in Novi.
The sculpture was paid for with about $120,000 in federal grants and
$30,000 in Ferndale city funding, said Heather Carmona, executive
director of the nonprofit Woodward Avenue Action Association,
which conceived the project.
She said the association has enough money for four or five more of the
pillars on Woodward, each with a different local-history theme.
Expected at tonight's celebration are Detroit City Councilwoman
Sheila Cockrel, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and Oakland
County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.
Tickets are $50 each. Call 248-288-2004 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today.
Contact BILL LAITNER at 248-351-3297.
The pillar in Ferndale is
adorned with art panels
that include auto and local
history.
The official lighting party is from 5:30 to 9 p.m. today.
(JEFF NOVAK/Special to the Free Press)
Ferndale's Woodward pillar is a celebration of history
BY BILL LAITNER • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • September
18, 2008
Starting tonight, Woodward Avenue will have a glowing landmark.
In daylight, a new 30-foot pillar of glass -- which features artwork
celebrating the auto history -- is easy to spot, one-half mile north of 9
Mile in the Ferndale median. But interior lights gave the translucent
artwork a striking glow Tuesday night during a test of its solar
collectors.
Walking his dog during Tuesday's test, Chris Laux, 57, of Ferndale
said, "I've been trying to figure out what that is."
Tonight, the tower is to come aglow for good during a celebration and
fund-raiser across the street, to be emceed by WDIV Local 4 anchor
Devin Scillian. The pillar will be lit for seven hours nightly, starting
at dusk, said installer Chuck Veres, with Harmon Sign Co. in Novi.
The sculpture was paid for with about $120,000 in federal grants and
$30,000 in Ferndale city funding, said Heather Carmona, executive
director of the nonprofit Woodward Avenue Action Association,
which conceived the project.
She said the association has enough money for four or five more of the
pillars on Woodward, each with a different local-history theme.
Expected at tonight's celebration are Detroit City Councilwoman
Sheila Cockrel, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and Oakland
County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.
Tickets are $50 each. Call 248-288-2004 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today.
Contact BILL LAITNER at 248-351-3297.
