Pentwater Arts Council

History of Sculpture Project

In the summer of 2025, the Pentwater Arts Council is concluding a three-year project which displayed outdoor sculptures on the streets of Pentwater.

The first year (summer 2022) the project was co-sponsored by the Pentwater Arts Council and the Pentwater Downtown Development Authority.  In this inaugural year as well as the following two years, artists were recruited by engaging a national professional art recruitment company called CaFE (Call for Entry) based in Colorado.

 Each of the three years there were between 80-90 entries.  The first two years professional artist narrowed the field to six and the same jurors ultimately selected one to receive the a “Juror Award.”  Additionally, the public was able to vote for a “People’s Choice Award.”  In year three the selection format changed. A jury committee narrowed the selection to ten and then the public voted on the final five.  The first two years of the project the sculptures were on display from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  In the final year, the sculptures were on display from June, 2024 through May, 2025.

 For all three years, the PAC developed an educational booklet to help observers learn about the sculpture medium and also provided discussion topics leading to an understanding of each piece.  The booklets were available to all the County schools, families and visitors to the area.

 The project was very popular and garnered a lot of interest and generous donors.  In the first year, donations and funding from the PAC and the DDA provided funding to purchase two of the sculptures (Mellow Yellow and Ann’s Arbor) which were donated to the Village of Pentwater.  Year two relied on the PAC and donors to again allow the purchase of two sculptures (Water Maiden and Constructed Tree) which were also donated to the Village of Pentwater.  In year three the PAC put the selection of a sculpture up for a public vote and Gypsy the Horse on the channel was selected for purchase by the PAC.  A sixth sculpture (Lamplighter) was purchased by a generous donation from Carol and Dave Messerlie and will have a permanent home at the Pentwater Historical Museum.

 An installation of permanent markers for the sculptures donated to the Village of Pentwater will take place in late summer or early fall to thank the donors, residents and the Pentwater Village Council for their support of the project.  Watch for details.