David Dodde stands near his ArtPrize entry "Fleurs et riviere" at Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013. The entry has temporarily transformed Alexander Calder's "La Grande Vitesse" sculpture. Dodde is from Grand Rapids. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

UPDATE: ArtPrize entry on Calder coming down: Grand Rapids says it must respect the art world

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – An ArtPrize entry that’s adding a bit of whimsy to the straight-faced landscape in front of the city/county administration buildings will be taken down.

Grand Rapids officials announced Wednesday, Sept. 25, that "Fleurs et riviere," which features foam flower petals attached by magnets to the big, red Calder sculpture on Ottawa Avenue NW will be removed, apparently for offending the sensibilities of the original artist.

“Our nearly half-century relationship with Alexander Calder and, following his death, the Alexander Calder Foundation, is too important to risk by allowing this art installation to continue,” Mayor George Heartwell states in a press release from City Hall.

“While many – myself included – initially saw this installation as whimsical and attractive, further reflection on my part together with conversations with art curators convinced me that this is an inappropriate treatment of our Calder stabile.”

RELATED: Calder sculpture gets flowery makeover for ArtPrize

The city will work with artist David Dodde to decommission the work and help him with the costs of removal, according to the release.

The release also states that Dodde's entry will remain eligible for ArtPrize voting.



It's not the first time an artist has interacted with the Calder for an ArtPrize entry. A Missouri artist placed a knitted web over the sculpture last year, for example.

Matt Vande Bunte covers government for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at mvandebu@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter and Facebook.