The big bounding bunny is in, by a whisker.

Sacramento County supervisors voted 3-2 Tuesday to approve what has quickly become the most controversial public art work in Sacramento in years.

It's a 56-foot-long red fiberglass rabbit that will be a centerpiece for Sacramento International Airport's planned new terminal.

The rabbit is designed to soar through the building's four-story atrium hall toward the baggage claim below, and toward a sculpted stone suitcase with a swirling liquid vortex on its surface.

Its creator, Denver artist Lawrence Argent, is famous for a 40-foot blue bear at the downtown Denver convention center.

Several Sacramento arts leaders Tuesday called the rabbit a statement piece that will delight travelers and enhance Sacramento airport's reputation for quality public art.

"It's lyrical," said Rhyena Halpern, head of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission.

"I think it is going to be important in the public art world nationally."

County supervisors didn't know what to make of it.

Several indicated they voted for it mainly out of the respect for the county's public art vetting process. Two local panels already had recommended the work unanimously.

But Supervisor Roger Dickinson said he couldn't overcome misgivings about giving a rabbit run of the austere steel and glass structure.

Terminal construction will begin in the coming weeks with an opening date of late 2011.

"I have a nagging sense that this in not reflective of who we are," Dickinson said.

Supervisor Susan Peters also was anti-rabbit. She called it "the bunny," and said she feared people would think of a rabbit's "proclivitiy for reproduction." Why not a cougar or wild turkey? she asked.

Jimmie Yee voted yes but said he knows nothing about art, much less rabbits jumping into suitcases.

Don Nottoli shrugged and said he's OK with it as long as it's in good taste.

Roberta MacGlashan came closest to praising the piece. "It's already done what art is supposed to do, generate comment and interest," she said.

The rabbit is one of three art pieces approved Tuesday by the board. The others were not controversial.

One by artist Don Lipski is a 30-foot diameter, crystal-festooned chandelier, formed like three valley oak trees meshed at their trunks.

The other is a series of wall shelves by Christian Moeller that seem random up close, but at a distance coalesce into faces of airport baggage handlers.

The three pieces and more artwork to come later will be financed through airport fees, not county taxes or the county general fund, several supervisors said. Those fees can be spent only at the airport, MacGlashan said.

By county ordinance, airport officials are required to spend a given percentage of the terminal construction costs on art.

The cost of the rabbit sculpture is an estimated $767,000, according to the artist. A cost breakdown includes $500,000 for materials and fabrication of the rabbit, and an additional $42,000 for fabrication of the granite suitcase.

Shipping the rabbit to Sacramento will cost nearly $15,000. Installation will cost another $15,000. An additional $17,000 would go to buy and install lighting for it, and $10,000 for the invisible cables to hang it.

Argent estimated his personal fee for the work at $127,800.

After the vote Tuesday, Argent predicted supervisors will change their minds when they see the rabbit in place. "It will be a different experience than what they imagine right now."