Monarchs to dance at Lover's Point

By: Susan Goldbeck

            A stunning glass and metal sculptor, Dancing Monarchs, created by Peter Hazel of Santa Cruz will be installed in the round cement pad at the park at Lover’s Point Plaza by virtue of the unanimous vote of the City Council. See pictures below.  Staff had raised an issue of possible vandalism at the Lover’s point site, but the Council felt that the installation of solar cameras would greatly lesson that risk.   

Dancing Monarch As They Might Look At New Location

          The other locations considered by the Council were in front of the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, at the plaza at City Hall, and at the small park area near the Pacific Grove sign at the median between upper and lower Lighthouse Avenues at Eardley.

    Dancing Monarchs   consists of eighteen butterflies. Some resting on vines and some are seemingly dancing in thin air... The vines are painted steel and the Monarchs are colored, fused glass. The sculpture is 12x6x6 feet.

This is an artist rendering of the Dancing Monarchs as they will look when installed

      The Dancing Butterflies was donated by Jan and John Stewart of Pacific Grove and includes the cost of installation.  Each of the Councilmembers expressed appreciation to Mrs. Stewart who was on hand for the vote.

“This is something both locals and tourists might enjoy Councilmember Mc Donnell observed.” 

            The consensus of Councilmembers and members of the public alike was that this generous gift to our City has a value way beyond its $25000. cost.  One observer said “It is destined to become an icon of our town: Butterfly town USA.”

      And, it is a timely gift. It is just in time for the return of the Monarch butterflies early next month.

 The pictures below are of the Dancing Butterflies in some of the other installations around the country including Water sound Florida, Yountville, California, Incline Village at Lake Tahoe and at the home of President Jimmy Carter in Plains Georgia.