Woodward Avenue Sculpture

Work on sculpture to start in Pontiac

Art on Woodward criticized by some

To some, it wastes taxpayer money and is an eyesore.

To others, the effort to dot Woodward Avenue every half mile or so with tributes -- 30-foot illuminated, pillar-like sculptures -- is a brilliant, albeit costly, way to unify the road's look, creating landmarks that are aimed at pumping up tourism.

Ground-breaking is to be June 9 for Woodward's second tribute, to go in the grassy median at the south end of downtown Pontiac, according to the nonprofit group heading the project.

The tribute's solar-powered lighting is to begin flashing on each night this fall, Woodward Avenue Action Association Executive Director Heather Carmona said.

The lighting will illuminate artwork that's to show "transportation in our region -- past, present and future," Carmona said. One of the four-sided tribute's panels will show part of a Chevrolet Volt, evoking cars of the future, as well as GM's long ties to the city of Pontiac, she said.

The shape of the tribute will match one erected in 2008 in Ferndale in the Woodward median two blocks north of 9 Mile. It depicts other themes from Woodward's history, including Motown music. The Pontiac sculpture is being funded by a $100,000 federal grant, combined with donations of $10,000 from the UAW, $5,000 from Pontiac-based Genisys Credit Union and $5,000 from the Oakland County government, Carmona said.

She said the technique of using public art to unify a tourist district has worked elsewhere. Critics say the idea is a poor use of money on Woodward Avenue.

"I like the tributes, but it's the wrong time to be doing public art when we're laying off police," Woodward Avenue Action Association board member Jean Chamberlain said.

Chamberlain said she voted against the board's consensus because "I think we should be fixing our roads in Oakland County."

Yet, the federal grant money for the tributes can't be spent on roads or police, association consultant Deborah Schutt said.

"This money would just be spent (on similar public projects) in some other state if we don't do tributes here. Do we receive flak on this? From those who are uninformed, yes," Schutt said.