Northern Michigan Art: Artist Brian Ferriby's sculpture of Lake Michigan marks his second Great Lakes depiction in a series of five, and the newest addition to Michigan Legacy Art Park.
Partnered with Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa in Thompsonville, Northern Michigan, Michigan Legacy Art Park is an outdoor gallery where artists bring the stories of Michigan's past to new life in the form of inspiring sculptures. The 30-acre wooded preserve boasts over 40 sculptures, approximately 20 poetry stones and an area of student work.
Soon a sculpture created by artist Brian Ferriby depicting Lake Michigan, the second largest Great Lake by volume, will join Michigan Legacy Art Park. Ferriby's representation of Lake Superior, crafted from oxidized steel, is already among the park's impressive collection, and the Art Park looks forward to its newest addition.
“Created like a topographical map, the sculpture will depict Lake Michigan. Like Superior, a Brian Ferriby sculpture already in the Art Park, Michigan will visually address water conservation, water usage and the role the Great Lakes have played throughout the history of Michigan,” said Marilyn L. Wheaton, president of the Art Park’s board of directors.
To honor their legacy of conservation and environmental protection, Ferriby's Lake Michigan sculpture will be dedicated to former Governor William Milliken and First Lady Helen Milliken. The couple was recently honored with the 2011 Legacy Award at the Art Park’s annual Legacy Gala, where Wheaton announced the sculpture's dedication.
The Lake Michigan sculpture will be installed this spring and officially dedicated to the Millikens during a ceremony on May 20, 2011. In the mean time, see for yourself how artists have represented Michigan through sculpture with a day trip to Thompsonville's Michigan Legacy Art Park. A leisurely hike through the Art Park typically lasts between 90 minutes and two hours and covers 1.6 miles of trails. The Art Park is open everyday during daylight hours and asks for $3 per person or $10 per household. Trail maps are available at the Visitors Service Center, and interpretive signs follow the trail to give hikers insight into the works of art.