Berry's 20-foot tall sculpture Perspectives is the centerpiece of the new Cali Mill Plaza. It was installed over a two-day period in March. Berry says the 7,500-pound monolith is so big "it had to be dropped in place by a crane."

Berry started out as a wood sculptor more than 30 years ago. Today, he primarily works in bronze, steel and stainless steel. The stainless steel he used in Perspectives is a half-inch thick at the bottom and graduates to three-eighth inches thick, so it's lighter at the top. Berry says the $150,000 sculpture was built in two pieces, which were ground and welded together on-site.

But before the piece could be finished, Berry says, a lot had to happen. First, he had to win the city's approval of his design. Next, it had to be mechanically engineered on a computer. Berry says, "You want it to withstand wind, earthquakes and a fraternity jumping on it. It's built to withstand any practical force. It won't tip over."

Berry describes his creation as being "akin to the stitching on a tennis ball." He chose the name Perspectives because the look of the piece changes depending on the angle you see it from. "It's like a figure eight unwinding and re-winding," he says.

Berry notes the sculpture's location is primarily seen by people driving by, so he wanted to create something that "has an inviting intimacy but still scales against the buildings."

The buildings are the Verona Apartments and Cypress Hotel. But their size has caused a lot of controversy in Cupertino. The group Concerned Citizens of Cupertino cites the buildings as the reason it's proposing three ballot initiatives to limit the height and density of future Cupertino developments.

Before the apartments, the hotel and the sculpture were there, the corner of Stevens Creek and De Anza boasted another Cupertino landmark—the Cali Brothers Feed and Grain Mill (officially R. Cali & Brother Feed and Grain Mill). The brothers closed the mill in 1984 and it was demolished in 1988.

When the Cupertino Historical Society asked Ron Cali about naming the new plaza after the old family business, he said it would be an honor. Ron Cali will be on hand July 24 when Cali Mill Plaza is dedicated at 10 a.m. The public is invited to attend.

And Berry will be there, too.

He will drive down from his 20-acre ranch in Clarksburg, which is just outside Sacramento.

At his ranch Berry has grown merlot and petite sirah grapes for 15 years. He sells them to Bogle Vineyards. And while sculpting is the love of his life, he says "it's very difficult to make a living as a sculptor. That's why I grow grapes." He also says, "Farming makes you patient."

He must be patient. From bidding, to designing, constructing and installing, Perspectives has been a five-year journey for both Berry and the city.