To celebrate its 120th anniversary, the Chinese manufacturer of specialty sauces, Lee Kum Kee, decided to commission a public sculpture as a gift to their employees and community to be installed outside the company headquarters in Guangdong Province, southeastern China. The company sought a group of young artists who could capture for this meaningful occasion a work of art that evokes a sense of gratitude and giving back, human values that transcend cultural and social boundaries.

Impressed with the work of Brian Lee (BFA ’08), a family member who at the time was studying furniture design at MCAD, the company chose Lee along with Nate Moren (BFA ’08) and Erin Hickel (BFA ’07) for the commission. Begun in 2006 while all three were students, “Project Willow” was soon underway with the conceptual design, planning and construction of components for the sculpture done on the MCAD campus. The completed work, installed earlier this year, is comprised of three gigantic arms pivoting around a base, each contingent on the other to achieve and thereby symbolize equilibrium—the heart of the spirit of giving back and supporting others.

To see Project Willow and for more information about this amazing project, go to http://www.projectwillow.com/.