Balancing Act: The Equilibrist by Marc DeWaele

The Equilibrist is a fascinating interactive sculpture. Located at in front of the Franklin Exchange Fountain at Franklin Street and Zack Street in Tampa’s downtown, it was the Grand prize Winner in the artLOUD! 2009 competition with its purpose to bring art to the city’s downtown. In that regard it has been very successful. The sculptor Marc De Waele created Equilibrist in all metal. It stands 84-inches tall, is 50-inches deep and 48-inches wide. This larger photo is a close-up of the balancing figure so do click on the smaller insert to get an idea of the overall size and complete design of this awesome kinetic creation. It won for being the Most Interactive and Creative Sculpture in the City of Tampa / artLOUD Competition sponsored by the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW). It features eleven yearlong installations of artwork and even has another of De Waele’s pieces that I featured in a post at Tampa Bay Daily Photo back on June 17th (Click HERE.) That sculpture, entitled Our Harp Fountain, is on display on Franklin near Twiggs. De Waele specializes in canvas works, metal sculptures, copper fountains, trompe l’oeil and wall murals. Born in Belgium in 1962, De Waele worked throughout Europe. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Eeklo, Belgium, took courses in Paris and exhibited widely in Europe. Since coming to the United States in 1999, he has accepted commissions to create trompe l’oeil orders, restorations and wall murals - and furniture restoration - for private clients throughout the Tampa Bay area. (To learn more about De Waele's work, click HERE.)