Babs told me that a whole flock of new sculptures had migrated to the Walk of Art over at the Elk Rapids Day Park, so on Tuesday Louan and I went to see them.
Above: Louan really liked the stone and wrought metal Garden Piece by Wendell Heers and Scott Lankton and For Wendell Heers by Lankton. I was taken with I love Michigan cherries created by Joe Lueck and displayed here as a memorial to Gene Veliquette. (Gene was the cherry farmer who, it is often said, taught all the other cherry farmers Around Here a whole lot of what they know—which is considerable.)
There are two more favorites below: Bart Ingraham’s Blue Dragon and Seek Alternate Route by David Petrakovitz
The setting is all Mama Nature’s own artwork, from landscapes . . .
. . . to these Jack-in-the-pulpit plants.
It’s a lovely place to walk. There are nice restrooms, a picnic pavilion, a sandy beach, shady trails, and 29 wonderful sculptures. And it is all free, courtesy of Mama Nature, ArtRapids!, and Antrim County taxpayers like me. You’re welcome. I don’t see how you can go wrong.
You can visit the Art Rapids! website here or view/download the whole 2016 Walk of Art brochure here.
Torch Lake Views 
dawnkinster
June 2, 2016
Katie and I were there a year ago this week. It’s a beautiful park! We enjoyed it so much. Visiting you was the highlight of our camping trip.
Gerry
June 2, 2016
My goodness a lot has happened since then. We loved seeing you – come see us again!
shoreacres
June 2, 2016
Confession: the jack-in-the-pulpits are my favorites. We had them outside my childhood home, where they kept company with lily of the valley, ferns, and bridal wreath (which I’ve only recently learned is a variety of spirea). I certainly don’t have anything against outdoor sculpture, convivial artists, or Michigan cherries, though. They all seem to be coexisting very nicely.
I came home yesterday with fresh blueberries and blackberries from a farm just a bit north, and with fresh, white-fleshed peaches I picked with my own hand. They’re better than candy, that’s for sure. Your eye candy’s just as nice, though.
Gerry
June 2, 2016
They were my favorites, too – mainly because I’d been looking for one and then fell into a whole patch of them. Satisfactory.
We should have some local berries any day now. OK, any week now. May got a slow start. They will taste very, very good. I will eat them just like candy.
tootlepedal
June 2, 2016
Well done to the taxpayers.
Gerry
June 2, 2016
Our pleasure.
Craig Smith
June 2, 2016
Those Jack-in-the-pulpits really do look sculpted.
Gerry
June 2, 2016
All that and they eat bugs. Excellent plants.
WOL
June 3, 2016
You’re right. How could you lose — neat art in a beautiful setting.
Gerry
June 3, 2016
Right on both counts. And it was such a beautiful day.
P.j. grath
June 3, 2016
Sounds and looks wonderful! If I get over there (maybe in September?), I’ll check it out, for sure.
Gerry
June 3, 2016
If you come this way in September please let me know – I’d love to show you all kinds of new and interesting stuff.