What ArtPrize Left Us Thinking About

An Interactive Sculpture Made from Steel—and Designed for Connection

The final installation featured a welded, 2D steel dog sculpture that invited visitors to press a button labeled “Push for Love.”

When pressed, the sculpture dispensed a printed “love receipt”—a short poem paired with a random act of kindness challenge—powered by a Raspberry Pi and thermal printer system.

Visitors didn’t just interact once. Many returned multiple times throughout ArtPrize to collect and share the prints, especially during the GVSU Night Market event hosted by Vetr Health.

Kids loved pulling the poems from the slot like a fortune. Others photographed them to pass along. The Vetr patio became a hub for conversation, reflection, and community warmth.

The Reality Behind the Build: Engineering, Iteration, and Michigan Weather

Projects like this aren’t built in a straight line.

The installation evolved throughout ArtPrize as the system was refined, debugged, and protected from Michigan’s constantly changing conditions—torrential rain one day, a September heat wave the next.

Challenges included:

• Early computer-vision camera lag
• Headless Raspberry Pi troubleshooting
• Humidity impacting paper feed
• Painting after mild weld burn-through during MIG touch-ups
• Designing an electronics enclosure that could survive rain, dew, and heat

It was, in the artist’s words, a “full-spectrum engineering and art experience.”

And honestly — that’s the kind of work we love. Real builds always come with tradeoffs. The important part is having the team, tools, and mindset to keep solving.

Weatherproofing: A Bigger Challenge Than Expected

One of the toughest parts was protecting the electronics outdoors.

The final solution used a modified NEMA enclosure sealed with silicone edges for rain protection, paired with ventilation slots and fans to prevent overheating.

That combination of durability and practical problem-solving is exactly what it takes to bring interactive metal fabrication projects into the real world.

Sustainable Materials, Repurposed Steel, and Community Craftsmanship

One of the most meaningful details: This ArtPrize entry was built almost entirely from repurposed steel scrap and offcuts.

That fit perfectly with the message behind the piece, one of sustainable love, community care, and craftsmanship that doesn’t waste what still has value.

At DeWys, we believe quality is designed in, not inspected in. And we believe steel can carry stories, not just structure.

Partners Who Made It Possible

This project came together through a strong group of collaborators:

• DeWys Manufacturing—Sheet steel material, laser cutting, and fabrication support
• Vetr Health—Hosting venue and campaign partner
• Beer City Dog Biscuits—Treat collaboration
• Grand Rapids Tech Week—AI integration inspiration
• Friends and family—Assembly, welding, and testing support

Technology Behind the Installation

Key components included:

• Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
• Epson thermal receipt printer (ESC/POS)
• Doorbell-style push button trigger
• Stepper motor and motor driver (future treat dispensing concept)
• Camera module for computer-vision experiments
• Waterproof enclosure system

Why We Say “Yes” to Projects Like This

DeWys Metal Solutions exists to make complex metal work easier and more reliable, whether that’s for an OEM supply chain or a community art installation.

We’re a family-owned, professionally operated team built on innovation, education, and community impact.

Supporting “Stand for Love, Sit for Treats” was a reminder of what manufacturing can be when it’s rooted in purpose:

Fewer surprises. More solutions. More connections.

We’re honored to have played a part.