The Review Magazine : May-June 2022

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LANSING pop. 112,644

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By Emily Stevens

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A rtPath highlights Michigan’s creative talent and reenergizes sites along the Lansing River Trail with temporary works of public art during the summer months. Now in the fifth year, ArtPath has become an annual public art program and a tradition for residents and visitors alike. Origins What began as an idea in 2017 between Katrina Daniels, exhibitions and gallery sales director at the Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center and Emily Stevens, manager of leisure services for the City of Lansing, flourished into the first ArtPath program in 2018. With the city’s knowledge and access of the River Trail, and the Gallery’s expertise in the arts, they were able to work together to create a safe, professionally curated, accessible experience for the community. A membership with the Michigan Recreation and Parks Association (mParks) provided access to placemaking best practices that would help guide the project. Placemaking became a focus of mParks when former MML staffer, Arnold Weinfield, joined the board—so big thanks to Arnold and the MML! Research was also done in urban planning and public art with the hope to engage the community in a space outside of the walls of a formal arts institution.

Getting the Project Underway Site selection is focused along a 2.5-mile stretch of the River Trail that connects three key and densely populated neighborhoods: Old Town, Downtown, and REO Town. Once sites are selected, the city’s Park Board is asked for permission to place artwork along the River Trail. When we’ve received the thumbs up from the Park Board, we touch base with the city’s Public Service Department to identify best practices for installation methods and determine ownership of spaces; this ensures that we are in public land. We also connect with the State on any sites focused on MDOT bridges that cross the River Trail. Upon approval of the sites, the call to artists goes out along with a panel of art professionals to review the submissions, also providing their recommendations. The artwork is then presented to the Mayor’s Arts and Culture Commission— a group that was formed by Mayor Andy Schor four years ago—to focus on promoting and supporting public art, for final approval. With a green light from everyone, the

project is able to move forward, with installs starting in May.

20 THE REVIEW

MAY / JUNE 2022