Work by Norfolk Sculptor Unveiled in Temporary Spot on Village Green

By Avice Meehan

Imagine fencing wire that’s been tamed and woven into a flower with 18 petal-like leaves all held in place by a welded, steel structure the size of a small tree. Those industrial-strength materials combine to form the sculpture “Lotus,” unveiled June 28 by the Norfolk Community Association (NCA) on the village green.

The piece was originally created by Norfolk sculptor Elizabeth Knowles and her collaborator, New York-based sculptor Eric David Laxman for an outdoor exhibit on the Lower East Side in response to the Covid pandemic.

“The lotus is an ancient symbol of resilience and renewal,” said Knowles. “It was a wonderful image to choose after the pandemic.”

The piece eventually made its way back to Norfolk and came to the attention of Doreen Kelly, who co-chairs the NCA, with Barry Webber. The NCA has been working on a long-term project to develop a sculpture trail in Norfolk—the first installation was the Owl of Good Fortune created by Jon Riedeman—and the piece seemed a good fit for the town.

“The community response has exceeded everything we expected,” said Kelly, who has been working with member Walter Godlewski on the effort. “We will announce our next project in a few weeks. Our goal is a piece a year.”

The green is a temporary home for “Lotus,” selected because it provides a high-profile location, particularly in the summer months when so many residents gather for events such as Friday Nights on the Green. A potential permanent location could be in or near City Meadow.

Knowles, who lives in a tucked-away house on Laurel Way Extension, said she studied with fiber artists but had little patience for traditional weaving. For this sculpture, she cut fencing wire into strips and wove them back together, forming the center of the lotus and the surrounding leaves. She paints with acrylics and gels, creating subtle color variations.

The collaboration with Laxman had its roots in a Sculptors Guild show in Monaco and the wild idea of creating a piece that opened and closed every 24 hours, like a true lotus. That vision was set aside for a stationery sculpture. 

Laxman said the welded structure was intended to complement and support the organic shapes created by Knowles. “My piece is like a satellite dish, much more technological in structure,” said Laxman. “The contrast [creates] an interesting tension between these two things.”

Kelly said the NCA plans to work with Norfolk-based sculptors before looking outside the town and may eventually create an advisory panel to inform future directions.

“We do engage with people locally to be sure our vision is in line with what they would enjoy,” Kelly wrote in a follow-up email. “But because any artwork’s impact is so personal, we expect and welcome varying opinions.”