“The Sun is a life force. It makes everything grow. A divinity that can lift our spirits. I have conceived of the sun as a Bird like those found in American Indian and Mexican legends. The bird is the creature closest to the sun.” ~ Niki de Saint Phalle

“The Firebird” by Niki de Saint Phalle.

“The Firebird” outside of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is a 17-foot whimsical sculpture of a large cartoon-like bird covered in pieces of mirrors and colored glass. It has become an iconic symbol of Charlotte, a draw for tourists, and one of the ultimate selfie shots in all of the Queen City. To commemorate the fifth anniversary of its installation, the Bechtler Museum is celebrating this milestone with an exhibition, “The Firebird: Celebrating Five Years in Charlotte,” on view until February 18, 2015.

“The Firebird” is the artistic creation of Niki de Saint Phalle, a highly influential artist of the avant-garde group of Nouveau Realistes during the 1960s and ’70s. Her work often reflected her life and engaged with important social issues, from women’s rights to AIDS, as well as her deep interest in mythology and fairy tales from around the world. De Saint Phalle created an immense body of work of more than 1,000 sculptures and 5,000 paintings, prints and drawings, frequently collaborating with the like of Yves Klein, Christo and Jean Tinguely, whom she later married. “The Firebird” is highly representative of her works, particularly her famous sculpture garden in Tuscany, Italy called “The Taro Garden.”

As part of its Modern Monday programs and the exhibition, the Bechtler is hosting a panel discussion on the artwork Monday, November 17 at 6 p.m. Panelists include: Constance White, Vice President, Public Art from the Arts & Science Council; Gina Sheridan, Vice President, Marketing and Communications from Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority; Michael Weinstein, Features Editor, the “Charlotte Observer”; and Christopher Lawing, Vice President of Programming and Research at the Bechtler. The panelists will discuss the artist, history, popularity and marketing of “The Firebird.” Tickets are $4 for museum members and $8 for non-members.

The panel discussion will occur inside, “The Firebird: Celebrating Five Years in Charlotte.” The exhibition looks at the popularity of the sculpture, its history before arriving in Charlotte and de Saint Phalle’s biography. It also includes a wonderful interactive section for children where they can engage with the sculpture artistically.