Michigan Legacy Art Park
Art from the sublime to the rediculous, I enjoyed my time documenting my journey. I hope you will, too.
First on the walk is one of the Sawpath Series by David Barr. All five of these sculputres are based on the Golden Mean - an infinite series of numbers in which each number after 1 is the sum of the two preceding numbers: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21... This progression has many examples in nature, such as pine cones and the nautilus
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One of my favorite pieces, Ontonagon by John Richardson. I just loved the huge, sweeping line that the steel beam provides. The stark white color also makes it stand out. The artist's intent was to reference the iron ore industry that used to flourish in Michigan.
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I really liked this piece as well. It's almost as if someone was in the process of building a fine boat and just gave up and left it. David Greenwood's intention is to have the viewer "reflect on the beauty of boat forms, on the forests from which they ar made, and the humorous absurdity of a boat being built in secret so far from water."
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So, I'm a sucker for framing within framing. I really liked the old wood and how it appeared be almost growing again. This was done as a project by Lawrence Technological University architecture students after studying rural architecture.
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I'm not sure of the title on this one. Robert Caskey called it Harbinger as like all other hats of the past, it is a harbinger foreshadowing change.
Looks like a goofy sombrero to me. But, it still caught my eye.artnaturewoodsnaturalmaterialwoodleavestreespathparkconcretestonegranitesandstonehatblocks6020635
A piece, no an interactive structure, that I spent a lot of time in was the Stockade Labyrinth by David Barr. Every corner had something new to catch your eye - all referencing the early settlers of Michigan and their lives.
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This was probably the most creative piece in the whole park. Within the Labyrinth, there was a little cubby hole that was intended to represent a mine shaft. For whatever reason, I decided to bend down and take a look inside.
This is what I saw.
Something tells me many people miss this, which is too bad.artnaturewoodsnaturalmaterialwoodleavestreespathparklabyrinthmazestructurefrontierfort6020623
Another piece that seemed to convey more than one feeling. Barn Chair by Gary Kulak at first seems to provide a comfortable place to sit and enjoy the wonderful vista of the valley below. It even frames it up for you as you approach. However, it also gave me the impression of a gallows.
Maybe another one of those intentional twists?artnaturewoodsnaturalmaterialwoodleavestreespathparkchairfurnitureseatframingcontemplation
And the last work I visited was Sawpath Series #5 by David Barr. I walked around this one several times trying to figure out how to capture it. I settled on this. It almost feels as if the piece is about to start flying away as soon as the tension is released.
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