Author: Arts Council

Prosperity

On November 7, 2017, a new sculpture was unveiled by the Saginaw Oakland Commercial Association at the point in the road where Saginaw and Oakland merge.  The stainless steel sculpture, titled Prosperity, stands 16 ft. tall and was designed by artist Fritz Olsen. Artist Fritz Olsen described his vision for the sculpture as one that … Continued

Rainbow Stairs

The Oakwood Neighborhood utilized a $250 Neighborhood Enhancement Mini-grant from the City of East Lansing to paint the stairs ascending from Valley Court Park to Oakhill Avenue. The mini-grants provide modest funding to neighborhoods in an effort to support neighborhood enhancement projects – everything from the installation of new signs/planters to beautification efforts, special neighborhood events, … Continued

Reaction

In fulfillment of the City of East Lansing’s Percent for Art ordinance and in partnership with the East Lansing Arts Commission, the developers of the 565 E. Grand River Ave. redevelopment project commissioned a new public art sculpture, “Reaction,” for the median of Grand River Avenue. Grand Rapids-based artist Mark Schentzel created the sculpture.

Record Lounge Mural

Riding the Past into the Future

Riding the Past into the Future is a mural depicting a train coming to life.  St Johns was founded as a major hub for the railroad system in the late 1800’s.  The concept behind the design of the mural is capture the rich railroad history of St Johns and couple it to the Arts and … Continued

Rollercoaster Bike Rack

The functional and creative “rollercoaster” bike rack is prominently placed near Island Park, along the Riverwalk Trail. The rollercoaster nods to the rich history of Island Park and the real rollercoaster that once stood there in the 1890’s when the property was called, “Seven Islands Resort.” “Artist designed bike racks provide yet another avenue to … Continued

Scrap Art at Friedland Industries

Friedland Industries has placed artworks created from scrap metal at the annual “ScrapFest” in Old Town on it’s property to be viewed by the public. During Scrapfest, teams have an hour to collect up to 500 pounds of scrap from Friedland Industries’ scrap facility. During the next two weeks teams must execute their masterpiece. The … Continued

Sculpture at Herbert-Herman Cancer Center

Mixed media sculpture of steel and glass in plaza focuses on a meditative balance of materials at the Herbert-Herman Cancer Center at Sparrow Hospital on the Eastside of Lansing.

Seniplarips

Artist Ivan Iler’s sculpture “Seniplarips” was unveiled in 2017 in front of the newly renovated Dart Bank in Mason.  The design represents growth, community, stability and the generations that will enjoy this for years to come.

Shanora’s Mural

Perhaps the oldest surviving mural in Lansing was painted in 1993. Willie and Orabe Fuller, owners of Shanora’s Beauty and Barber Supplies at 829 W. Saginaw St., wanted to introduce people to African Americans who had made a mark in history. Some would be recognized, others maybe not so much, but they’d spark interest. The Fullers commissioned Mark Beard, … Continued

Sidewalk Dreams

In November 2017, the Lansing Poetry Club received a First Impressions Placemaking Grant supported by the City of Lansing, the Lansing Economic Development Corporation, and the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. The purpose of the grant was to celebrate four areas of the city—Old Town, REO Town, the Stadium District and the Eastside— through a writing … Continued

Sign Language

Sign Language, designed by Lansing-based visual strategist and designer Ben Graham, explores the social construction of meaning through the use of traditional communication symbols, and was featured at ArtPrize in 2015. Graham’s intent is to encourage the community to interact with the piece and each other, and to become more intently aware of our collective impact … Continued

Silver Respite

“I decided on a beacon, a sort of lighthouse, to guide visitors to the trailhead. The imagery of the sphere, pyramid, and bird come directly from the historic courthouse, and the leaves reflect the city designation as a Tree City USA. In addition, I incorporated a bench into the design so active people could sit … Continued

Sparty

The idea of the Spartan Statue originated in 1932 from then MSC Athletic Director Ralph Young when he was visiting the campus of University of Southern California and saw their Trojan statue. Students attempted to create a Spartan statue, but all attempts failed.  Nothing more would be done until 1941 when President John Hannah took … Continued

Splash

Installed in 2015, Splash is a large sculpture that is the shape of a “splash” of water. This piece was created to “help demonstrate to companies looking to come here as well as their employees who settle in cities like St. Johns that we have a cosmopolitan environment which will help the area in terms … Continued

Spray Park Mural

A total of 1,852 tiles painted by over 1,000 community members come together to make a bright, fun mural for the Spray Park in St Johns. The artwork was designed by local artist Tracie Davis.  Along with her assistant, Diane Harte, she also assisted community members in painting their portions of the mural.  The artwork … Continued

Statue of George Washington

On the corner of Walnut and Washtenaw Street in Lansing stands a statue of George Washington. His figure is memorialized in bronze in front of the Lewis Cass Building. The building is named for one of Michigan’s original territorial governors. It is also one of Michigan’s oldest office buildings. It once served as the state … Continued

Stop and Smell the Roses

Located on the property of Delta Township Hall, (7710 West Saginaw Hwy.), snuggled next to a beautiful fountain, at the corner of Canal and overlooking Horrock’s Market, this sculpture by Arts Council of Greater Lansing member Craig Mitchell Smith is a wonderful example of his great breadth of work. As can be guessed by this … Continued

Sun Dial

Impression 5 Science Center and the Riverwalk Theatre are officially home to Michigan’s largest sundial along the Lansing River Trail! This timekeeping device was built and installed by the I5 staff, and was made possible by the kind generosity of Dennis Pace and Anne Grofvert.

Tangled

In 2017, Michigan-based artist Steve Scarborough donated his famed Artprize entry to the City of Grand Ledge. Printed on low luster aluminum, the 6” tall by 4” wide photograph depicts a woman hidden in a tree. Mr. Scarborough thought to make the donation to the city because the basis of the photograph is an actual … Continued

Thank You Michigan

Catch a glimpse of this interactive piece of art as you’re heading down Michigan Avenue! REACH Studio Art Center’s “Thank You, Michigan” mural is painted on the side of Soup Spoon Café giving residents and visitors the opportunity to share what they are most grateful for.

The Artisan Company Mural

Steve Allen created a huge mural on the outside of The Artisan Company Salon & Spa to make it visible from Washington Avenue, along with one located inside the building.

The Bird

MSU’s growing stable of sculptures includes the sledgehammer whimsy of New York artist Will Ryman’s “The Bird,” an elephant-sized quail made of massive nails installed last year in a courtyard near the Student Services Building.

The Heart and Art of Grand Ledge

In 2004, artist Tony Hendrick invited the community to aid in the design and painting of a mural depicting highlights in the City of Grand Ledge, both past and present. The end result is a colorful 58 x 26-foot true work of art affixed to the side of the City’s former 1855 Fire Hall. Here, … Continued

The Ledges

“The Ledges” sculpture depicts the awe-inspiring and unique sandstone ledges that occur naturally in Grand Ledge. Installed in 2015, The Ledges sculpture stands nearly 18-feet tall and is 9-feet wide. The climber affixed to the side of the sculpture recognizes the residents and visitors that frequent nearby Oak Park to admire and climb the ledges. … Continued

The One Who Provides

On October 28, 2018, Old Town unveiled this mural by artist Nanibah Chacon. Her mural highlights representations of native women in addition to the traditions of plants and sustainability on indigenous land. When she paints a mural, Chacon’s goal is to learn about the community and make connections with the people who know the space best. … Continued

The Worker

A structural tribute to the blue collar history of Lansing, The Worker represents the passion of the men and women who built Michigan’s capital city. Along with the “rebirth” of Lansing and the Stadium District developments, The Worker stands extremely tall to invoke a sense of community pride throughout the district and celebrate the rich history of the region. The … Continued

There’s Something Happening Here

“Perched atop a Turner Street building are silhouetted figures that could cause your heart to stop for a second. One appears to have binoculars; the other, a rifle. But they are just art, not a menace. The silhouette cutouts are extras from the 2014 ArtPrize exhibit, “There’s Something Happening Here” from Grand Rapids, by artist Henry … Continued

Thomas McIntyre Cooley

This memorial sculpture of Thomas McIntyre Cooley is located at the Darryl J. Parsell Memorial Garden in downtown Lansing.

To the Poets Who Gather Here

In November 2017, the Lansing Poetry Club received a First Impressions Placemaking Grant supported by the City of Lansing, the Lansing Economic Development Corporation, and the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. The purpose of the grant was to celebrate four areas of the city—Old Town, REO Town, the Stadium District and the Eastside— through a … Continued

Turner Mini-Park Sculptures

Turner Mini Park is located on the NE corner of Turner St and Grand River Ave in the heart of Old Town. It’s not a big park but it is the center of action at times with live music and art on display often. Even on ordinary days, it’s a great place to sit on … Continued

Under the Bridge

The US 127 and Michigan Ave. underpass by Frandor created an artistry light installation and murals that went far beyond just merely being a utility.  A challenge to overcome in the shadows under the bridge,  found an artistic and creative solution in the light. Shadow to Light! The goal of this mural and light installation … Continued

Urban Landscape-Rural Landscape

“My idea was to show through abstract forms the vitality of urban industrial Michigan as well as the quiet peacefulness of its rural life,” says Alfred Hinton of his metal mural wall. “It’s a marriage of Michigan’s natural beauty and industrial might.” Twelve interlocking panels made of aluminium, copper, steel and iron curve to form … Continued

Velvet Elvis

As of Friday, September 8, 2016, in the alleyway behind The Creole, there is a larger-than-life Velvet Elvis. The mural was done by Eric Schantz of Saginaw, Mich., and commissioned by Old Town Commercial Association’s own Jamie Schriner. Jamie’s flat in Old Town came with a large expanse of empty, white brick wall along the … Continued

Veterans Memorial

The Michigan Veterans Memorial recognizes the sacrifices of Michigan men and women who served in World War I, World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.The memorial was dedicated on Thursday, November 11, 1982, by Michigan’s Veteran Organizations and Auxiliaries. There are public benches and seating areas for viewers to more easily access this … Continued

Victoria

The most conspicuous of MSU’s newest sculptures is “Victoria,” a towering accordion of arches by Curtis Pittman, installed two weeks ago next to the Breslin Center along Harrison Road installed in September 2017. MSU is finishing a major renovation of the plaza surrounding the Breslin Center, and “Victoria” is the crowning touch. Pittman, who is … Continued

Waiting for the Mail

James Calder painted the oil-on-canvas mural “Waiting for the Mail” in 1938 for the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. The mural hangs in the lobby of the historic Grand Ledge, Michigan post office. (Source: Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs)

Walter French Building Murals

Capital Area Housing Partnership (CAHP) joined forces with the REO Town Commercial Association to unveil community painted murals at the historic Walter H. French School. The large-scale paint-by-number mural was designed by two Lansing based artists – Joy Baldwin and Eric Schantz. The concept portrays influential artists, musicians, and world leaders such as Oprah Winfrey, … Continued

Wonch Park Community Mural

Created and unveiled on June 11, 2016 on the restroom facility at Wonch Park in Okemos.  Artist Kelly Boyle designed the mural and it was painted by residents attending the Celebrate Meridian celebration.

YMCA Historic Column

Expertly crafted more than 70 years ago, the YMCA Historic Column was located at the site of the former Lansing YMCA on Lenawee Street. The column, donated to LCC in 2015, has been reimagined and retro tied with newly designed stained-glass windowpanes and was given life by a newly installed light source that spread an … Continued