Art and science enthusiasts can unite and marvel over “Maggie,” the new magnetic
levitating sculpture created to cement Tallahassee’s legacy as the “Magnetic Capital of
the World.”
The sculpture combines the abbreviations for Tallahassee (TLH) and Florida State
University (FSU), with both hovering above a sleek white pedestal. The sculpture was
officially unveiled on Feb. 19 at the 2025 Motor, Drive Systems and Magnetics
Conference with Mayor John Dailey in attendance. Dailey, who initiated the project
alongside FSU alumni Bob and Gail Knight, addressed the audience and detailed the
significance of the art.
“The City of Tallahassee prides itself on being a creative and innovative community
where art and science do in fact connect — which is why this project and our continuing
partnership with Florida State University in the MagLab is so exciting,” Dailey, a one-
time FSU student body president, said during his speech at the conference.
Dailey also helped to fund the project along with the FSU Research Foundation. The
sculpture is the result of a collaboration between FSU’s Mastercraftman Studio, the City
of Tallahassee, and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab).
Phil Gleason is the production manager at the Mastercraft Studio and was also the
project lead.
When reflecting on the early stages of the project, Gleason said that Dailey originally
intended for the art to break a Guinness World Record.
“At first, with the call to set a record for him, we were pretty confused to be honest. We
didn’t know what he wanted or what we were going to create,” Gleason said. “At some
point we let that drop and just let it be about the sculpture.”
While Gleason came into the project with experience creating magnetic levitations, he
said the one created for the mayor was a completely different challenge. He hopes that
people are in awe of the sculpture and that they are able to appreciate the meaning
behind the statue.
“It speaks to the partnership between Tallahassee and the MagLab and why it is the
magnet capital of the world. Tallahassee has never really been recognized for that,”
Gleason said.