MUSKEGON, Mich. — There's a new addition along Shoreline Drive in Muskegon. A dedication ceremony was held Monday afternoon at the 40-foot-wide steel sculpture called "The Portal" in Downtown Muskegon.
"The arts and cultural infrastructure of Muskegon is very strong. It's the strongest along the entire Lakeshore," said artist Lee Brown.
If you travel along Shoreline Drive in Muskegon, you'll notice the large ring-shaped sculpture that was installed in August. That sculpture is called "The Portal" and on Monday, the Muskegon community came out to see the dedication of the newest installation of public art for the city.
"Today was the dedication where the city officially took the deed from the Community Foundation for this public art piece, which does sit on public property here along Shoreline Drive. It's really exciting to see this many people show up. It was a lot more than what I was expecting," said Muskegon City Manager Jonathan Seyferth.
The sculpture is 12 and a half tons of steel and Brown is the artist behind it. Judith Hayner from the Muskegon City Public Art Initiative said "The Portal" is meant to represent community strength, unity and Muskegon's industrial heritage.
"Muskegon, obviously, was a major industrial site for many, many decades, starting with lumbering in the 1800s which led to foundries, which led to manufacturing. The site that we're on is actually all recovered land that was part of the industrial life of Muskegon in the '20s and '30s and '40s," said Hayner.
The site of the portal sits between what used to be the headquarters for SPX, which made piston rings for engines.
The art piece is also meant to look like one of those piston rings that SPX would make. The one in Muskegon is number nine of 10 total sculptures that SPX has helped to fund for communities.
Brown said while "The Portal" represents a lot of Muskegon's history, he hopes it will bring joy to the community for the future.
"I mentioned, you know, a lens towards the future. You know, to be thinking about positive impact on your community and ways that you can help build Muskegon. That's what this is about for me," said Brown.
Funding for the sculpture was paid for through private donations.