LANSING, MI – Within sight of the state’s Capitol on Michigan Avenue in downtown Lansing, community partners welcomed a new immersive public art attraction this afternoon.

On behalf of project partners LEAP, the city of Lansing, the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, Impression 5, R.E. Olds Transportation Museum, and the Riverwalk Theater, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, Bob Trezise of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), Deborah Mikula of the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, and Jeff Magnuson of Riverwalk Theater spoke of the economic and cultural impact the city’s investment in creative placemaking has and continues to make.

The Sense of Place in the Arts Program is funded through the City of Lansing and administered by LEAP and the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. This program is an incredible opportunity for Lansing residents to activate spaces in the City of Lansing through creative placemaking efforts that are artistic and permanent.

“Investment in arts and culture is key to creating the ‘sense of place’ that makes Lansing a great place to live,” said Mayor Bernero. “’Portrait of a Dreamer’ is a head-turning installation. It’s immersive and impressive and will become iconic.”

The 15-foot-tall sculpture called “Portrait of a Dreamer,” is composed entirely of stainless steel and overlooks Museum Drive from Michigan Avenue. “Portrait of a Dreamer” is not just substantial in stature
but is also interactive and illuminated.

Artist Ivan Iler describes the piece as one that visualizes the flow of ideas transpiring within Lansing’s cultural district, “As I designed this sculpture to represent all three organizations that are housed on Museum Drive, I thought of gears ‘turning’ and those gears/thoughts/ideas moving down toward the cultural district,” said Iler.

Looking to the year ahead, expect the 2017 Lansing Arts Impact project slated for Southwest Lansing, to be unveiled in early spring 2018.

“Access to, and investment in, arts and culture is paramount to successful placemaking,” said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of LEAP. “Programs like LEAP’s Public Art for Communities grant, the city of Lansing’s Arts Impact Grant, and other efforts across the region have and will continue to create significant and lasting symbols, communicating to the world and each other that Global Lansing is a great place to call home.”