HAYDEN - It's not just a multi-colored Plexiglas head, it's an "Epiphany."

The Hayden City Council on Tuesday night approved a large piece of public art that will be built near the Hayden Library.

The central sculpture, titled "Epiphany," is a human head made of steel and colorful Plexiglas, creating a stained-glass effect. It will be located just off Government Way on a narrow strip of property owned by the Hayden Library and bordering the Peak Tennis Center.

"The face will glow in the evening with light that gradually changes colors, signifying an active mind," the artist, Hayden resident Michael Horswill, wrote in a Feb. 23 letter to Mayor Ron McIntire and the city council.

Two sculptures to the sides of the head are more abstract, "symbolizing the products of an active mind and giving viewers, especially children, the opportunity to use their imaginations when looking at the colorful, dynamic shapes."

"I think it's very colorful, vibrant - I think it will add a lot to our downtown community," said Councilwoman Jeri DeLange.

Councilman Dick Panabaker was the lone "no" vote.

"The people I've talked to don't understand that thing at all," Panabaker said. "They live here. That's who we work for."

Councilman Tim Timmins said the city needs the art.

"It's not going to be the most popular, probably, for a lot of people," Timmins said. "But, you know, it's what the public needs."

He said there is a good chance those who don't like it initially might find it grows on them with time.

The artist, Horswill, teaches art at North Idaho College.

The project cost is $60,000. The project site is within Hayden's urban renewal area, and 5 percent of the Hayden Urban Renewal Agency's money is designated for public art.

Hayden Arts Commission Chair Nancy Sue Wallace said more than 100 submissions were received, and the commission narrowed them to five finalists.

The commission sought public input regarding Horswill's piece along with the other finalists' pieces. Models of the finalists' pieces were displayed at the library.

The public rated Horswill's piece third-best among the top five submissions.

Along with how the top five submissions looked, the commission also considered factors like maintenance costs before deciding on "Epiphany" for recommendation to the city council.

Also Tuesday, the city council approved an art project concept for a parking lot that is planned for construction just north of City Hall on the east side of Government Way.

For this site, the arts commission recommended to the city council a design by William Turnbull, of Madison, Wis. He designed multiple large-scale dragonflies, which would have lighted glass bodies and metal lattice wings.

The city council was unanimous on the dragonfly concept for the parking lot.