GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- If you've been by the Grand Rapids Public Museum, chances are you've seen the giant horse sculpture in recent weeks. It stands nearly nine feet tall, and a red glow shines from his heart.
The larger-than-life creation took roughly 1,600 hours to build. Daniel Oropeza of Orange County, California, built the piece. He says he encouraged visitors to touch the piece because he feels like it was all part of the experience.
“Basically, the idea here was, first, building a horse out of steel," Oropeza said. "And then, melting glass and copper until they fused together. And then, welding the entire thing with bronze.”
Part of the beauty of the sculpture is that it changes from day to night.
"It looks Romanesque by day and New York New York by night,” Oropeza said.
He said he had to convert a horse trailer to accommodate the piece for traveling across the country.
