Lakeland 'Feng Shui' sculpture begins long-awaited repairs to make its return to Munn Park

Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger
·3 min read
"Feng Shui," a coldcast bronze sculpture by Polish sculptor Jerzy Kedziora, appeared balanced between two trees in Lakeland's Munn Park for nearly five years but was taken down in 2019 ahead of an expected hurricane. The city noticed it had damage, and it hasn't been on display since. Now it's getting repairs for an expected return to the park.
"Feng Shui," a coldcast bronze sculpture by Polish sculptor Jerzy Kedziora, appeared balanced between two trees in Lakeland's Munn Park for nearly five years but was taken down in 2019 ahead of an expected hurricane. The city noticed it had damage, and it hasn't been on display since. Now it's getting repairs for an expected return to the park.

LAKELAND — An iconic, if sometimes overlooked, Lakeland sculpture is getting long overdue repairs to make its return to Munn Park.

For nearly five years, visitors entering the park's southeast gate were greeted by a man carrying windchimes precariously balanced on a cable suspended between trees. This coldcast bronze sculpture "Feng Shui" by Polish sculptor Jerzy Kedziora was taken down by city staff prior to Hurricane Dorian's anticipated arrival in September 2019, according to the city's Facebook posts, and has yet to return to its post.

"We were afraid it would get damaged," said Pam Page, Lakeland's assistant director of parks, recreation and cultural arts. "When they took it down, it was evident there was damage to it over time. It had deteriorated."

There was damage to parts critical to the sculpture's balance, Page said. The 2007 statue is one of Kedziora's series "The Balancing Sculptures," delicately positioned by one or two pieces designed to keep balance while giving the appearance of defying gravity. Recent sculptures in the series have been displayed in Dubai and Berlin.

The city's initial estimates for the sculpture's repairs were about $12,000, Page said. At that time, there wasn't any money set aside for it in Lakeland's budget. The city does not have a maintenance budget for its sculptures, she said.

The "Feng Shui" statue first appeared on Lakeland's Lemon Street Promenade among a line of other sculptures. The city bought it in 2015.
The "Feng Shui" statue first appeared on Lakeland's Lemon Street Promenade among a line of other sculptures. The city bought it in 2015.

"It’s been packed in a crate for a while. We couldn’t afford the restoration," she said.

Page said the topic came up while in conversation with Valerie Ferrell, who became director of the Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency in August 2022. Ferrell said the CRA had funds available for its downtown district that it could contribute to the statue's repair.

City staff recently transported the sculpture to RLA Conservation of Arts and Architecture in Miami, a professional conservation firm that specializes in sculptures and historic artifacts that was recommended by the Polk Museum of Art, Page said.

The conservation group reached out to Kedziora, who Page said has agreed to recast those pieces that needed to be totally replaced and ship them to Miami. There is no timeframe at this point for how long it might take.

"I talked to them last week, they were hoping to hear something from the sculptor soon to send those pieces to them," she said.

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"Feng Shui" was first displayed along Lemon Street promenade in Lakeland as part of the Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition in March 2014. Page said the city decided to purchase the statue in 2015. Part of the funding came from proceeds of the city's annual Spring Obsession and Art show.

Other winners of the Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition have been purchased by Lakeland for display in the city's parks, including "Feng Shui Giotto" by Glenn Zweygardt of Alfred Station, New York. It found its permanent home at Lake Crago Recreational Complex's outdoor patio and seating section.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFl.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland 'Feng Shui' statue may return soon to Munn Park trees