Officials hope sculptures rented for Blue Water Area promote business, tourism

PORT HURON, MICHIGAN -- Sculpture Exhibit is taking shape in Port Huron and the surrounding area, and already it has received some good reviews from residents.

Four statues were placed in the city Wednesday, prompting those passing by to stop and take a look.

Whitney Fontenot and Matt Turnbull, both of Port Huron, said they were pleased with the effort.

"It might get more people downtown," said Turnbull, 23.

While they had lunch at the Black River Cafe, the pair sat a few feet from one of the first pieces of art to be placed in town, a red circular sculpture created by R. Mutt.

Fontenot, also 23, said the exhibit was a good idea she thought could generate business for the city's merchants.

Brianna Black, 18, of Port Huron said the display of artwork was a step in the right direction for the area.

"I think it's what Port Huron needs. We need more people," she said.

Black said building up cultural events and the arts in the area also would attract a variety of people.

John Sauvé, the exhibit's curator, said the program's purpose is to build communities through public art.

The goal of the Brighton resident's organization, Sauvé Art Foundation, is to build communities through public art.

"It has a direct economic impact on the community," Sauvé said. "The more they talk about it, the more they come downtown and go place to place."

He said 15 sculptures will be erected in the Blue Water area by the end of June.

One, called "On the Edge of Awakening," by Terry Karpowicz, was placed in the Riverview Plaza Shopping Center in St. Clair in late April.

A sculpture by Michael J. Barker, called "Steel Series #1," has been placed in Marine City's park on South Water Street.

Sauvé said sculptures also will be placed in Lexington and Sarnia.

In Port Huron, the St. Clair and Black rivers and McMorran Boulevard also will be eventual sites for sculptures.

Walt Badgerow of Lexington took video of his sculpture, "From Rust," after it was placed near the Huron Avenue and Quay Street intersection on Wednesday.

He said he was glad to have an opportunity to showcase his work in his "own back yard."

Also on Wednesday, a sculpture called "What day is it," by Janette Luchese, was placed in front of Ben's Fine Furniture on Huron Avenue. Brian Ferriby's "Mars" was placed in front of the Municipal Office Center.

The idea for the project came from City Manager Bruce Brown, who wanted to bring new art to the front of the MOC. The program was put together in partnership with the Blue Water Arts Council.

"Culture is very much a part of the statement of who you are and what you stand for," Brown said, "and I think it provides an area of attraction for people who are attracted to art, provides a setting for artists in Michigan who are trying to support their work, and it's all part of our tourist efforts."

Each piece of art is "rented" for $1,500 for two years. The artists receive $1,000 for each piece of art, and $500 goes to promoting the sculpture. The money comes from sponsoring residents, businesses and organizations in the area.

Sauvé said several sculptures still are available for sponsorship.

Sauvé said exhibit-related activities will be scheduled throughout its two-year period, with educational and tourism components.

"Love them or hate them, people are going to go look for them, and they're going to have an opinion on them -- and every opinion is the right opinion," he said.