Outdoor sculpture displays to stay through Oct. 2021
Longtime Mount Clemens attorney Randy Chioini was driving down Gratiot Avenue one day when he noticed an unusual looking sculpture.
Chioini pulled his vehicle over, got outside to walk over to get a close-up look at the artwork and loved what he saw. That was his introduction to the Macomb Cultural & Economic Partnership’s public sculpture program.
“I didn’t understand what was going on, but once I learned about the program, it was a no-brainer to me,” he said. “I said sign me up. Let’s keep doing it, build it up and keep it going and help reinvigorate the town.”
Now in its third year, the nonprofit Macomb Cultural & Economic Partnership (MCEP) has expanded its public displays to 13 sculptures, including two present sculptures in the south end of Mount Clemens. In the program’s first year, there were eight sculptures placed for a one-year display. The number grew to 12 last year.
The sculptures are sponsored for a year from the Midwest Sculpture Initiative, which coordinates with Midwest artists. MCEP officials arranges for financial sponsors for the pieces and locations to place the works in various parts of the city.
Chioini, whose law office is on First Street across from City Hall, has the work of numerous
local artists showcased inside his office. He quickly agreed to be a financial sponsor for the program.
While watching a new piece, titled Blue Box, be installed in a field next to his office earlier this week, he reflected on his thoughts on public art in the city.
“My office, my staff, my clients and the other attorneys on staff are all big proponents of Mount Clemens,” he said. “We’ve been here a long time and feel invested in the neighborhood, invested in the community. This project aligns with everything we want to do.
“This city has great bones and great people. We’re here to support both.”
Ed Bruley, who serves as MCEP’s secretary, agreed.
He said the program’s goal is to enhance the artwork’s economic impact on Mount Clemens. Coupled with other programs, the art provides a way to draw people into the city. Even during a pandemic, people can take a leisurely walk around the city and enjoy each of the sculptures and other displays while social distancing.
“So it has a health values, an economic value and an artistic value,” Bruley said.
Each of the sculptures have a small plaque attached with the name of the artwork along with the artist’s name. Each is for sale. One of Mount Clemens based MCEP’s programs is to improve communities through visual artistic enhancements and community improvements. Pre-COVID-19, other programs included bringing international students to visit in Macomb County, and arrange trips for students and adults to travel overseas.
The group is supported by private funds and receives no government financing.
One local expert says Mount Clemens has a history of supporting outdoor art dating back to the 1990s with the Art in Public Places initiative through collaborating with the Detroit Institute of Arts on its high-quality reproductions of masterpieces from the DIA’s collection and the Art City program, a walking trail of art in windows of vacant and populated downtown storefronts for visitors to enjoy.
“Mount Clemens is becoming a home for the visual arts, which I’m excited about,” said Phil Gilchrist, executive director of the Anton Art Center. “We’re working with the Downtown Development Authority to procure more public artwork with the Anton Art Center. We’re looking at continuing this for an additional two-three years.”
Gilchrist, who is planning on reopening Anton Art Center in early 2021, said the importance of public art is it provides a way for communities to create an identity and reflect “who they are as communities.”
“It helps develop a cohesive sense of community. It’s growing here and, if I have anything to do with it, it won’t slow down,” he said.
Sponsors for this year’s sculpture program include Alliance Health-Henry Ford Macomb, First Financial Services of Michigan, Goodman Sheikh PC, Macomb Cultural & Economic Partnership, Printing by Johnson, Stephen Saph Jr., Julie and Stephen Saph Sr., and You Call Bail Bond Agency.
The new sculptures will be in place until October 2021.