ANN ARBOR, MI - Ann Arbor's latest city-funded public art installation is now on display for all to see.

A series of many aluminum "leaves" forming a vine-like relief sculpture have been fastened to a retaining wall along Stadium Boulevard across from the University of Michigan football stadium.

The anodized surfaces of the metal pieces, with their bottom halves angled upward, create reflections of light that are intended to "translate the movement of clouds, the sky, leaves and trees, and the various colors of cars and people that pass by."

The piece is titled "Leaven" and it's the work of artist Brian Brush of New York-based Brush Design LLC.

The City Council voted 8-3 last July to commission the $100,000 artwork, which was chosen from a pool of proposals from artists across the nation. The council hired the Ann Arbor Art Center for $35,000 to manage the artist-selection process.

Brush's proposal for "Leaven" was recommended by the Art Center, the city's Public Art Commission and city staff.

Mayor Christopher Taylor and his allies were in favor of it, while Jack Eaton, Sumi Kailasapathy and Jane Lumm were opposed.

Eaton argued last year it was just going to be pieces of aluminum hanging off a wall and not the kind of art the city should be seeking for the amount of money being spent.

A majority of council members were in favor of the project, some saying they wanted to honor the time and energy put into the selection process, and the public that voted on different proposals.

The artist's proposal stated, "The myriad reflections on the aluminum 'leaves' intend to embody Ann Arbor's many colors at different times of the day and year, while also mediating the contrast between the surrounding natural material and the built environment."

The design renderings showed mirror-like reflections of green and blue colors. The actual gray pieces of metal that have been installed don't appear to reflect much color, though they do cast a glare.

The City Council recently voted 7-4 to approve a $2 million list of potential additional public art projects, giving city staff direction to plan on including art in nearly two dozen city capital improvement projects. Those ideas range from flight-themed artwork to go with a terminal expansion at the city's airport to artworks at possible new city fire stations and outside the city's water treatment plant.

The council's approval of the list gives city staff direction to include public art in the scopes and designs for identified capital projects, but the art aspects still could be stripped out of some capital projects when they come back to council for final approval.