The Michigan Legacy Art Park, located at Crystal Mountain, is home to beautiful on-site large-scale sculpture installations and stunning scenery, and hosts numerous summer Northern Michigan events including photo tours, art workshops, and even a summer concert series.  Read on to discover their lineup of Northern Michigan outdoor activities and arts events.

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Photo Fun — Various dates in July and August

Join Chris Bickes for a photo tour through the Art Park. Learn photo composition tricks that can turn your summer memories into lasting stories. Bring your own camera, any type will do. No experience necessary. Meet at the Art Park trailhead.

Riding Golf Cart Tour of Michigan Legacy Art Park — Throughout July and August

Explore the beauty of art and nature at Michigan Legacy Art Park from our new all-terrain vehicle. Riding tours of the Art Park are available to visitors who are unable to hike the hilly trails. Because the seating is limited to 5 passengers, advanced registration is required.

Sketching in Nature — July 3rd

Artist Deborah Crandell will lead a class in outdoor sketching – studying form in relation to the environment and focusing on wooded landscapes. Inspiration will come from the sculptures in the Art Park as well as the Group of Seven. Artists of all abilities are invited to attend the informal workshops to study shape, form, texture, and contrast in changing values. Meet at the Art Park trailhead.

Hike to the Fort — July 5th

Head out to the Legacy Art Park for a guided tour with nationally recognized artist, Dewey Blocksma. Learn about Dewey’s incredible journey as you view his work and listen to him speak about what inspired him to be the artist he is today. Along the way, you will discover sculptures that tell the amazing stories of Michigan’s history. When you finally reach the Fort, you will wind through a twisting labyrinth as you learn about Michigan history. A great activities for both adults and children.

Walk to Fallen Comrade — July 10th and 24th

Walk to Fallen Comrade with Brian McCall, Interlochen Arts Academy history teacher. Participants will encounter Fallen Comrade an impressive sculpture by David Greenwood and explore the history of the Tuskegee Airmen, their relationship to Michigan, and Michigan’s role in the WWII war effort.

Community Art Project — Various dates in July and August

Each session will provide people of all ages to see inside the creative process of a professional artist-in-residence and to learn about how ideas and inspirations can manifest into tangible form. Participants will get to observe and contribute to the visual story that will be told through the work. During the course of this project, the installation will develop through modular stages. Each week the installation will continue to grow and change based on the input and work of the participants. Progress of the project will be documented through a blog, which will be updated weekly during the course of the project.

Logging in Benzie — Various dates in July and August

Dr. Louis Yock, Director, Benzie Area Historical Museum, will lead participants on a walk through the Art Park learning about the history of logging in Benzie County and specifically the land where the Art Park is located. The nine sculptures inspired by this significant Michigan industry will be the destination points along the walk.

Women in the Park — July 22nd and August 12th

Art historian Patty Pelizzari will lead participants on a hike through the Art Park to learn about the sculptures created by women artists, the background of the artists themselves, and how artists or movements in art history influenced their work.

Hemingway in Michigan — August 14th

Patricia Innis, Art Park education director, will lead a discussion on writer Ernest Hemingway’s early years in Michigan and it’s influence on his writing. Participants will hike to the two Hemingway-related artworks in the Park.  Learn more at MichLegacyArtPark.org.


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