Michigan Legacy Art Park

Mission

Michigan Legacy Art Park inspires awareness, appreciation and passion for Michigan’s history, culture and environment through the arts.

The mission is primarily fulfilled through an outdoor sculpture collection that expresses Michigan’s history and extensive educational opportunities.

The Organization

Michigan Legacy Art Park is a sculpture park dedicated to sharing the stories of the people, events and natural resources that continue to shape the legacy of Michigan. Contemporary artists interpret these stories through outdoor sculpture. With over 40 great works of art, the Art Park provides a rich cultural experience for thousands of visitors annually.

History:

Artist David Barr founded the Michigan Legacy Art Park in 1995. He began to envision the Art Park in 1988 as a place where "artists could tell the story of Michigan through the fundamental materials of nature” while connecting man to nature, nature to man, and transcending those boundaries without disturbing the balance.

Today, visitors encounter over 40 impressive pieces of contemporary art along the 1.6-mile hiking trail. The art evokes the complexities and contradictions of Michigan’s history, environment and cultural identity. While the art collection is permanent, approximately two new pieces are added annually. Additions to the Art Park’s collection are selected through artist applications that are reviewed by a jury.

The Art Park is the result of committed individuals and organizations who have given time and money to create a place where you can experience the harmonious integration of nature, art, history and education. Funding for both the Art Park and the artwork has been provided by the Arts Foundation of Michigan, ArtServe Michigan, Chrysler Fund, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, many suppliers of material used by the artists, individuals like yourself, the MLAP Board of Directors and Crystal Mountain.