Company makes artists’ ideas, municipalities’ projects come to life

Locally, they’re reputed for unique fire bowls, but nationally, their major public art sculptures can be found dotted across the country.

Lafontaine Iron Werks (LIW) started small, making maquettes of Ron Baird’s “Spirit Catcher” sculpture in Barrie in 1995. But word of mouth about the company’s ability to turn an artist’s idea into a 3D structure spread. “The art community is a very small community,” said Michael Bilyk, owner and president. […]