Sculptures set community standards in Fenton

As you walk down South Leroy St. in downtown Fenton, the city is lined with sculptures. One is tall, made concisely of wires and bronze in the shape of a woman stepping off as she is falling and she is an angel. Further down the road the statue of the Rubix cube sits lonely alongside downtown. 

Downtown Fenton, Michigan, holds sculptures and statues alongside South Leroy Street. These sculptures in part were made available to display by the Michigan Sculpture Initiative in Blissfield. 

The Michigan Sculpture Initiative’s mission on their website is to “provide outdoor sculpture exhibitions throughout the Midwest, promote cooperation among art and civic organizations, advance the role that the visual arts play in the quality of life and increase economic development.”

MSI was founded by Kenneth Thompson, an artist and owner of Flatlanders Sculpture Supply. 

“The exhibits serve to increase awareness of the visual arts,” said Thompson on his website. “…assert that a community is forward thinking and energetic, improve the quality of life, and dress-up the urban landscape.” 

The sculptures are placed around downtown and help bring art to the city. John Strayer, the vice chairman of the Downtown Development Authority is a sponsor of the exhibit. 

“The sculptures and murals help make Fenton an interesting and enjoyable place to live, work and visit,” said Strayer. “They provide cultural and economic value to the businesses and residents of Fenton. The selection program enhances our community by giving residents and downtown business owners the opportunity to work together every year to pick new sculptures.” 

Strayer said he believes bringing in the sculptures plays a huge role in downtown life. 

“Business members have purchased sculptures which are now on permanent display in the downtown,” said Strayer. “The city, through the DDA, has purchased several sculptures which are part of the city’s permanent collection. Charitable organizations have purchased sculptures which are also permanently displayed in the downtown.” 

Mike Hart, assistant city manager and on the board of the DDA, is also a sponsor of the exhibit as well. He has helped the process of it. 

“Art is about quality of life,” said Hart. “It’s about aesthetic quality of life. It’s also a great economic development tool. 

The sculptures and art that are around downtown came out of the Great Recession and was a way to promote the economy. 

Hart said: “The program has been going on now for an excess of 10 years. They had to allocate dollars to do it…The desire to have people come and visit and take pictures and have points of interest was really important and again, it is about aesthetic and beauty, but it’s also about economic development, because then it creates interest, it creates a place that’s best practice.” 

Through the Michigan Sculpture Initiative and the DDA of Fenton, the sculptures provide a way for people, artists and even the economy to enjoy itself and the art. 

“Remember: art is created not necessarily to sustain life but to enhance it,” said Thompson.