The second piece of artwork planned for McEuen Park was placed at its new perch on Wednesday overlooking Lake Coeur d’Alene near the Third Street Boat Launch. “The Great Escape Blue Heron” is a bronze piece situated on a large slab of granite.

The $10,500 Heron art was donated by Dr. Justin Stormogipson of Coeur d’Alene in memory of his late wife Maj Stormogipson. The popular artwork won the 2013 People’s Choice Award for best temporary art and was previously situated at the corner of Lakeside Avenue at Second Street.

Artist Jerold Sheraton of Sheraton, Wyoming created The Great Escape Blue Heron. This is the second piece of art that been part of the city’s highly successful ArtCurrents program, which aims to have pieces of art on temporary display purchased and donated to the city.

The next piece of artwork planned for McEuen Park is Allium Spring Chorus, which will be placed at Front Avenue and Third Street on July 23.

The inspiration of the design is the allium plant, a wild onion, native to Idaho. The 25-foot-tall piece will include thousands of star shapes that make up the flower heads, catching and reflecting light and bending slightly in a plant-like manner.


City arts liaison Steve Anthony, left, and Arts Commission Chairman Joe Sharnetsky, look on as crews prepare to place The Great Escape Blue Heron on the west end of McEuen Park.