Artist Sinclair Korte Chase stands with a part of his painted panel installation, “Help,” along the Lansing River Trail during ArtPath 2021. | MEDC news relelase/Sarah Parker
Artist Sinclair Korte Chase stands with a part of his painted panel installation, “Help,” along the Lansing River Trail during ArtPath 2021. | MEDC news relelase/Sarah Parker
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced that the Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center's latest art project on the Lansing River Trail came to fruition through crowdfunding.
According to a news release from MEDC, the art initiative will utilize the state-based crowdfunding app Patronicity as the Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center has presented summer artist presentations for over 12 years.
“ArtPath has become an annual public art project along the Lansing River Trail that the community and artists look forward to. In our fifth year, we will activate and revitalize sites through a volunteer river trail clean-up, 20 new public art installations, and a community festival,” said Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center Exhibitions and Gallery Sales Director Katrina M. Daniels. “MEDC and Patronicity play an incredible role in community investment. With their support, we will not only be able to produce ArtPath, but we will also give the community an opportunity to invest in it as well.”
The success of the summer art endeavors has led ArtPath to enhance the summer festival, in addition to the cleaning of the river trail, with a series of outdoor artist speeches and 20 art installations, according to the release.
“This project combines public art, recreation, and community gathering to create one great placemaking initiative,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Michele Wildman. “We are pleased to support and provide resources for this project for the fifth year through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”
According to MEDC, statistics show that since the creation of ArtPath in 2010, there has been a 28 percent rise in people utilizing the trail, up from 64,000 to 82,000.
“The Michigan Municipal League is a firm believer in building community wealth in ways that enhance the human experience for all,” said Dan Gilmartin, the league’s CEO and executive director. “This art initiative on the Lansing River Trail speaks directly to the arts and culture pillar of community wealth building, and it will also expand upon the Lansing River Trail, which contributes to the public health pillar. This project will help in creating spaces within communities that will improve the human experience for everyone, which is what community wealth building is all about.”
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