Michigan Legacy Art Park’s beautiful two miles of trails are home to sculptures by some of our state’s finest artists, with thirty acres of woods preserved by dedicated volunteers who have spent decades growing this special place. Many of them, we’re happy to say, are women.
It’s easy to consider their artworks as celebrations in themselves — of people finding their voices, discovering history, experiencing the wisdom of nature, and finding the fortitude to endure and fight against injustices across time.
We’re proud and moved by each and every one of them, and we hope the landscape the park offers…
Have you ever wanted to put your passion for the arts, the outdoors, and history all together in service for the state you love?
For over 25 years, our volunteer Board of Directors has been the strategic heart of our organization, ensuring our work delivers real impact to our communities, and our unique outdoor art experience continues to grow and thrive. You can learn more about our mission, finances and plans here.
As a nonprofit arts and cultural leader located in northern Michigan, we’re currently seeking energetic prospects statewide to serve on our Board of Directors for an initial term…
February 5, 2021: We join so many others today across Michigan and the world, heartbroken to hear the news of Charles McGee’s passing at the age of 96. He was a vibrant and working artist until the end, an icon of his beloved Detroit, and his creative spirit and intellect will forever live on through his remarkable work. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
Michigan Legacy Art Park, a nonprofit arts and culture organization in northern Michigan, is seeking artists to apply for our 2021 residency program. The online application is free and available here.
Funded by the…
If you’re interested in collaborating with the Art Park, hosting an exhibit, or to receive guidance on how to run your own version of the project, please email Volunteer Director of Education Patricia Innis. If you’d like to do it yourself, our handy guide follows.
In August of 2020, Michigan Legacy Art Park artist and Volunteer Education Director, Patricia Innis, launched the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Mask Project as a way for people to connect during a challenging time and share their experiences about the pandemic and their hopes for a future after quarantine.
“We want this project to reflect…
His artwork lasted almost four decades before leaving a void that has yet to be refilled. This is the story of “Untitled 2.” Written by Joseph Beyer, Executive Director
Michigan Legacy Art Park, a nonprofit public space located at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, has been in existence for over 25 years. During that time, its mission has always been to combine Art, Nature, and History together into unique experiences. It hosts 2 miles of hiking trails across thirty acres of wooded preserve, featuring over fifty large sculptures along the way. …
Inspired by Robert Holdeman’s sculpture “A Dream of Home” located at the Michigan Legacy Art Park in Thompsonville, Michigan.
Miniature-Sculpture by Creative Director, Andy Tyra.
Educational Ideas inspired by the sculpture from Kenneth Stevens, Founding Member of the Art Park and Professor Emeritus at Eastern Michigan University.
“A Dream of Home” DIY Miniature Sculpture Project
If, let’s say, you and some other crazy friends were trying to think of cool activities you could create for kids that might (just might) also teach them something — you could consider the challenge of taking a large monumental sculpture and then shrinking it into a single piece of paper.
Artist Kara James’ Work-on-Loan Installed at the Art Park Trailhead
“Handmade Revolution (2005) was inspired by the anti-consumerist, handmade movement that has been gaining momentum since not long before the sculpture was created. At the turn of the century, some green fringe notions became a direction for some parts of society to instigate a revaluation nationwide of traditional ideas, including personal responsibility and accomplishment. The role of manufactured goods and the homogenization of the cultural economy became suspect, and with a lack of trust or money to continually reinvest in corporate production, and lack of alternative, people began to make…
a sculptural workshop project that sends signals across time and space
Update: Michigan Legacy Art Park is collaborating with the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts in Manistee for an encore gallery and art workshops as we all start to reconnect with our communities on our journey back to normalcy.
Everyone has become familiar with the phrase “don’t forget your mask” — it’s one of the ways of being safe during the health crisis (in addition to many other changes in how we live our lives).
In exploration of this powerful symbol, the feelings it invokes, and to bring our Art Park family closer together during this challenging time — our…
THOMPSONVILLE, MI — Michigan Legacy Art Park is celebrating its 25th anniversary year with an Online Auction. The auction features original artwork, gift certificates, and other unique packages. The auction ends at 7:00 PM EST on Sunday October 25, 2020.
There is no fee to register, and anyone can bid. Items will be mailed, dropped off, or can be picked up in Thompsonville or Traverse City for winning bidders. You can preview the catalog for the auction here.
This celebratory auction features works from local artists Dewey Blocksma, David Petrakovitz, Terry Tarnow, and more. …
Michigan Legacy Art Park
Where Art, Nature and History Meet
