Mount Clemens organization’s Sculpture Project is biggest yet
With the unseasonably warm temperatures this fall, now is a good time to get outside and enjoy the nearly three dozen sculptures displayed throughout Mount Clemens.
The Sculpture Project by the Macomb Cultural Economic Partnership has increased substantially in recent years, going from eight pieces the first year in 2018, to two-dozen pieces three years ago to 35 works this season, 2024-25.
"We've had very good support from the community," said Ed Bruley, secretary of the nonprofit organization's board. "We're making the community look good. People really like it. People want a community, every part of the community, that looks good. Our focus is on areas that haven't been traditionally a place to find art. It changes people's attitudes about where they live and what their neighborhood is about."
The Sculpture Project is part of an ongoing partnership between the MCEP and the Michigan Sculpture Initiative in which outdoor sculptures created by local artists are on display for a year, from October to September, and removed and replaced by new ones or taken to another location.
The program is funded by donations from local businesses, organizations and people.
A fundraiser will be held to support the project this month. People can order a $35 dinner from Tacos Maya No. 1, located at 1187 Southbound Gratiot, at Harrington, in Clinton Township by Tuesday, Nov. 12, for pickup 4-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. Proceeds are to be donated to the MCEP. To obtain an order form, call 586-783-6008 or email of the sculptures are permanent and owned by the MDEP. The new works each year are leased from the artist, and typically available to purchase by the public, Bruley said.
People are encouraged to do a "sculpture walk" of the displays or strategically ride in a vehicle to view them. A map can be downloaded at mcepmacomb.com/sculpture/ .
New sculptures, their artist and location this year include: "Gottlieb," by Ray Katz 92 Northbound Gratiot Ave.; "Rare & Endangered," by Lesanne Burchell; 1187 S. Gratiot; "Zebra Herder," by Mike Sohikian, north of of 66 NB Gratiot; "Autumnus II," by Sohikian, Southbound Graiot at Belleview; "Transparent Wedge," by Ken Thompson, NB Gratiot & Robertson; "Music Box," by Richard Morgan, 276 SB Gratiot; "Doyen," by Richard Morgan, Gratiot Plaza; "Fleur A Pois," by Pam Reithmeier, 133 S. Main St.; "Ocular Dreams," by Judith Greavu, 148 S. Main; and "Conversation Redux," by Robert Garcia, 171 Grand Ave.
The MCEP also purchased a formerly vacant lot at 17 NB Gratiot Ave. that has been transformed into Pollinator Park, where plants have been located to attract butterflies and other pollinators.
In addition, MCEP installed the "Bee Reader" sculpture at the park to hold gifts of small paperback books each month, one geared toward youth readers and one geared toward adult readers that visitors can take home. Each month's selection will be available on the MCEP website with the book's description.
November's selections are "Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories," by Washington Irving, and "There Once Was a Limerick Anthology," edited by Michael Croland.
The MCEP also operates micro-gardens "to enhance the surroundings" at sculptures for which it is seeking volunteer gardners, it says on its website.
Bruley said Pollinator Park and micro-gardens help the organization uplift a trio of elements that positively impact individuals in the community and the community as a whole.
"We want to create an area of lifestyles where art, intellect and nature connect," he said.
The organization also aims to improve the local economy.
"Hopefully, it's going to impact people to locate their business here or to make their business look better," he said.
