'Gaze,' Iron Horse, Staying at the Home of the Mustang

Gathered in front of artist James Oleson Jr.’s iron horse at a recent dedication ceremony are, from left, Mayor John. B. O’Reilly Jr., Dearborn Community Fund Chairwoman Susan Rowe, David and Cherie Bazzy and their son, Nicholas Bazzy. (Photos submitted)

“Gaze” isn’t trotting off to greener pastures.

Artist James Oleson Jr.’s majestic iron horse sculpture now stands sentry on the south lawn of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave.

The sculpture was one of a dozen included in a temporary art exhibit supported by the city’s Art in Public Places – Midwest Sculpture Initiative sponsored by the Dearborn Community Fund and the East and West Downtown Development Authorities.

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Sculpted of recycled materials, metal and found objects — including parts from Dearborn-based Ford Motor Co’s Mustang — “Gaze” quickly became a community favorite.

Among those enamored with the life-sized sculpture was Cherie Bazzy.

“Cherie thought it was majestic and fit the spirit of Dearborn,” Dearborn Councilman David Bazzy, also the chief operating officer at Kenwal Steel, said of his wife’s affection for the art work.

So he went to Kenwal CEO Kenneth Eisenberg and made the case to keep to sculpture as a permanent installation in Dearborn. Together, the Bazzys, Eisenberg and Kenwal contributed the $16,000 to buy the sculpture, with support also coming from the city of Dearborn and the Dearborn Garden Club.

At a recent dedication ceremony, Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly Jr. said it was appropriate the iron mustang sculpture is remaining in the city where the iconic Mustang pony car was manufactured for decades at the former Dearborn Assembly Plant.