FAIRHOPE, Ala. — For six months, residents and visitors can drop by Founders Square, 76 S. Section St., and walk through a sculpture garden.

Mike Bernhardt, developer of Founders Square, issues a special invitation for participants in tonight’s monthly ArtWalk to visit the site, which contains several “found art” sculptures by local sculptor and special effects artist Bruce Larsen.

“This is the city’s first sculpture garden. Our aim is to re-envision the concept of Fairhope as a community of artists,” Bernhardt said.

The centerpiece of the garden and the only permanent piece on display is the “Clock of Dreams.” An unveiling ceremony was held for this sculpture on June 20.

Bernhardt describes the clock as approximately 15 feet tall with a face that includes numerals, but no hour or minute hands, and the inscription “Time to Dream.” The clock is situated near the Section Street entrance to the mixed-use residential and commercial development.

“Rather than thoughts of a George Orwell novel, the clock and its function should bring to mind the movie “The Wizard of Oz” and its story line that if you wish hard enough, whatever you dream will come true,” Bernhardt said. “We took the theme of the clock from the founders of Fairhope, who in the late 1800s dreamed and planned for an idyllic utopian community where one could secure a large plot of land based on the economic theories of Henry George. The founders set out and searched the entire United States and when they came upon the land that was to be Fairhope, they declared it the answer to their dreams,” he said.

Larsen added that the Chicago lyric “Does anyone really know what time it is?” was also an inspiration for the piece.

“This show is all Baldwin County,” Larsen said describing the works on display at Founders Square. While the artist has in the past scoured Baldwin and Mobile counties for discarded farm and work equipment for elements of his metal sculptures, he says he doesn’t have to travel to Mobile any more, he can secure enough from sites on this side of Mobile Bay.

While the Clock of Dreams is a permanent art piece at Founders Square, Larsen is hoping to put together a traveling show for the other pieces.

“I am currently negotiating with an Alabama museum to permanently house the sculptures after that,” he said.

Larsen added that Julia Greer worked as his assistant on most of the garden sculptures.

Larsen, a native of Fairhope, is not only known for his unique sculptures, but he is a master of special effects. His work has been featured in major motion pictures including “The Patriot,” “Black Knight,” “Planet of the Apes” and “Dumb and Dumber.” The garden fish sculpture contains a mechanism from a mechanical horse used in the filming of Tim Burton’s “Planet of the Apes.”

Larsen’s most recent special effects accolades come from his work in National Geographic’s “Sunset Limited Amtrak Train Wreck.” He was recently named the 2009 Sport Artist of the Year in Sculpture for the United States Sports Academy

Fairhope, which has been labeled “the Carmel of the South” by leading lifestyle publications, is situated on high land overlooking Mobile Bay. The city is a mecca for both the arts community and for retirees and features quaint shops, stores and restaurants with narrow streets dotted with rainbows of flowers and landscaped shrubbery.

Bernhardt’s board and batten mixed with brick Founders Square borrows its design for original Fairhope structures, some of which were built by Lawrence Bernhardt, his great-grandfather and one of the city’s founders.

“My grandfather was a dreamer and our city was his and the other founder’s dream. The ‘Clock of Dreams’ will be our contribution to those who live in and visit our city and have dreams of their own,” he concluded.

For more on the July 3 ArtWalk, see Page 6A.