The Making of the "Convergence" Sculpture

An excerpt from my speech for the Dedication Ceremony
@
North Point Health and Wellness Center
June 1, 2007

The many things that inspired me to create “Convergence” .

One of these things was the fact that North Point Health and Wellness Center is taking the forefront of being a place of healing, not just for some, but for all…for all of the people of North Minneapolis!

Another was the location of the center. As you all know, North Point is located right in the heart of a very diverse and most colorful community. Community filled with neighborhoods that have a rich history, traditions and tons of legacies.

To simply put it, I was inspired to create “Convergence” because North Point Health and Wellness Center is “OUR” clinic! I used the word “OURS” because before it was North Point, it was Pilot City. Pilot City was my clinic, my family’s clinic, my neighbor’s clinic, my community’s clinic.

You see this was and still is my neighborhood. I grew up not too far from here. I spent my early childhood on the 11th block of Irving Avenue North. So as you can see I didn’t hesitate to answer the call for submission a year ago, because I know the importance of the call and the risk for not answering it was simply too great!

My friends, family, colleagues and neighbors, “Convergence” was inspired by you all, your personal and unique attributes, along with the wonderful, diverse and rich history and legacy of this community.

My friends, family, colleagues and neighbors, “Convergence” stands for the coming together of essential elements necessary for a healthy life. Elements that we bring to the center to make it “golden” and keep it “golden”!

These essential elements are: Concern, Family, Culture, Science and Wisdom.
I believe that “Concern” is the motivation to reach out and engage ourselves with the health center. It is also about the center’s ability to listen, hear and be receptive to the concerns that we bring.

I believe that “Family” is the immediate context to where everything begins.
It’s only then natural to extend family to “Culture”. Culture is the element that contains important traditions and beliefs. Traditions and beliefs we bring with us to the center.

Next is the element of “Science”, a totally unique element in that it is fact base knowledge, which allows all of us to make good decisions.

Then finally the sole element that can use to define, interpret and help us to understand all of the other elements. The element of “Wisdom” for which will assist us in knowing what everything means and what is the best thing to do.

Thank you all for making this day a memorable day, a day that I will never forget!

R.T. Rybak, Minneapolis Mayor at the Dedication

seexeng.MPLS.mayor.jpg.w300h400.jpg

Photo courtesy of Duane Atter @ the Warren

Asian American Press
"Building Community Within Diversity"

Seexeng Lee to unveil North Point sculpture

“Convergence” Sculpture for the Atrium in the NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, created by sculptor Seexeng Lee. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Seexeng Lee to unveil North Point sculpture
By Tom Sveen

When the new sculpture in the remodeled atrium at North Point Health and Wellness Center in North Minneapolis is unveiled at the center’s grand re-opening in April, the event will mark a defining moment in the life of a local Hmong artist.

Seexeng Lee, a painter and sculptor who also teaches art at Patrick Henry High School, has been working on the piece for months, but he has been dealing with the deeper issues it depicts since he immigrated to Minneapolis from a refugee camp in Laos at age nine.

The piece, entitled “Convergence,” is comprised of five sphere segments, each representing a healing element: Concern, Family, Culture, Science, and Wisdom. According to Lee, members of the community must contribute these healing elements to form a whole. The figures are arranged around a gold sphere and will be hung from the ceiling of the North Point atrium.

Lee, who graduated with a double major in art and education from Augsburg in 1997, said this theme of healing in the work has special significance for him.

Like many first generation Hmong, Lee felt he had to let go of his Hmong culture if he was going to be successful and follow that “typical immigrant American dream.” Lee said he did this to some degree, but soon realized how important each individual culture is to race relations. “I’m just doing the tiniest thing…to cause people to be conscious of their identity,” said Lee.

“A lot of my work, on the surface it may look like a Hmong value, but if you look underneath, it’s almost all human.” It’s that combination of universal humanity and the contributions of individual races to healing that Lee was looking to show in “Convergence.”

In June, a twenty-member panel at North Point selected Lee’s piece from a group of four proposals given by prominent Minneapolis artists. North Point Chief Executive Officer, Gary Cunningham, said Lee’s piece best fit with the goals of the Center.

“NorthPoint staff and community are excited to have Seexeng’s sculpture in our atrium and we all look forward to the unveiling ceremony scheduled for later this spring, said Cunningham, “Each component of his work represents healing and truly depicts our mission of “actively partnering to create a healthier community’.”

At that time, Lee painted a picture of his father, a Viet Nam War veteran, in soldier’s attire and presented to him at a banquet. When Lee’s father passed away in the summer of 2005, Lee wanted to do something to honor the man who was the anchor of a family that now numbers more than 100 people. Lee had first worked with gold leafing in college, but had been told by his professors that it was reserved for sacred occasions. Lee could think of no more sacred occasion than the commemoration of a man who meant so much to him. He highlighted the metal badges on the painting with gold leaf and placed it by his father’s casket at the funeral.

“Almost everyone who walked by to pay respect to him looked and said, ‘What is that?’” said Lee. “They were all curious as to what it was, but my goal was not to get them to be curious, but to show them how important he is to us.”

Lee said the event marked the turning point in the use of gold leaf. “From there, the flood gate opened,” said the artist, “What is important to [the Hmong] are the certain elements of our culture and identity that are sacred.” He often uses the material now to show the sacred in everyday cultural activity of the Hmong.

After all the subcontracting necessary to gather and construct the materials needed for the piece North Point piece, and metal molding poured at Wes’s Foundry in Howard Lake, much of Lee’s $40,000 commission has been spent. To Lee, however, the project was not about the money.

“I always tell myself I’m a lifetime learner,” said Lee. “There are always things that I’m learning. This piece opens so many doors into understanding the world of public art and the world of art…you cannot put any dollar signs on that.”

Visit Seexeng Lee’s art online at www.seexeng.com.
4 Comments
Posted on 23 Feb 2007 by Tlaventure
by Maineng (aka: Yang Her) @ 25 Feb 2007 02:25 am
This story of your life, thoughts, passion, and carisma motivates and inspires me in continuing to reach my dream as well. Thank you.
by Wameng Yang @ 25 Feb 2007 12:24 pm
Kuv pab zoosiab heev, thaum twg hnov ib tug hmoob zoo ces peb hmoob zoo lawm. Vim peb yob hmoob. Ua koj tsaug heev uas pab txawb peb hais hmoob. Thov mob siab ua koj lub neej es peb hmoob thiajli vammeej.
by Mai Lee Yang @ 26 Feb 2007 12:16 pm
I've known Mr. Lee since 2000 when I was a student at North High School in North Minneapolis, where he was teaching as an Art teacher & an advisor for the Asian Club. He was very passonate about helping young men and women accomplish their dreams and was always willing to help by providing resources & guidence. Its good to know that the same passion he had back then is still driving him to positively impact our community and future hmong generation.
by Vangpao @ 27 Feb 2007 09:17 am
Great job!! You're a role model for the young generation. Keep up the good work and good luck for your future (xav yam twg kom tau raws li lub siab xav nawj). Remember, YOU'RE HMONG..

Vanglor Lee

The painting that started everything.

Special "Thank You" goes to:

NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center Staffers
Casting Creations of MN, Inc. and Its Crew
Clark Engineer, Corp.
Greiner Constructions and the Greiner Crew
Dolliff Insurance Company
The Hennepin County Staffers

Douglas O. Freeman
George Roberts
Jan Marx
Wes Jones
Kory Carlston
Valerie Carr

Lots of hugs and kisses goes to Iriya, Nadia and Melody

"Without all of you-- without your faith, guidance, patience, assistance and professionalism this dream of mine may have not been realized!"