Experience Great Art in the Great Outdoors with the Public Art Passport

The Great Lakes Bay Region is set to become an outdoor gallery with the unveiling of the 2024 Public Art Passport Exhibition, organized by the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum located on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University.

All are eagerly invited to immerse themselves this summer in the vibrant expressions of local and regional talent through this exhibition, which features an inspiring collection of thirteen temporary public art installations scattered across three picturesque counties: Saginaw, Bay, and Midland. The Public Art Passport Great Lakes Bay Exhibition will run from June through August 2024.

This is the first outdoor exhibition for Public Art Passport, an initiative that aims to provide opportunities for residents of and visitors to Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region to engage with all public art and connect with the community. The Public Art Passport website serves as a virtual hub that combines public art sculptures and murals from across the region into one online space and entices people to explore public art through self-guided instruction.

This year's exhibition showcases the diverse work of talented artists who have transformed public spaces into stages for awe-inspiring sculptures that engage and captivate.

The artworks offer visitors an array of styles and themes, highlighting the dynamic and vibrant cultural scene in the Great Lakes Bay region. Each piece is designed to spark conversation, promote cultural tourism, and provide a distinctive way to explore our beautiful communities. Throughout the summer labels with QR codes will be placed at each sculpture and will provide further insight into the artists’ visions and details about their artwork.

“This exhibition is not just about viewing art; it's about experiencing the soul of our communities through every brushstroke and sculpture," said Megan McAdow, Director of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum.

Special events and public art tours at local art fairs will accompany the exhibition period, providing an even deeper dive into the stories behind the area’s public artwork and the creative minds that brought them to life.

To kick off the Public Art Passport exhibition, Public Art Passport will host public art tours and activities at the Art Seen Festival in conjunction with Midland Summer Art Fair on Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2 between 10:00am-5:00pm.

Public Art Passport will also be in attendance at a special Shine Bright Saginaw Mural Project event on Sunday, June 2, beginning at 4:00 pm. The outdoor dedication will take place near the silos at 105 Lyon in Saginaw and will include live music from performers such as Joe Hertler and The Rainbow Seekers, Monique Ella Rose, as well as Pesky Kid.

Public Art Passport tours will also be available at the Old Town Saginaw Art Fair on Thursday, June 6 between 10:30am–6:00pm and Friday, June 7 between 10:30am–5:30pm..

Exhibition Credits: Public Art Passport is supported in part by the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, Saginaw Valley State University, Midland Area Community Foundation, Michigan Arts and Culture Council, Hemlock Semiconductor, Saginaw Community Foundation, Bay Area Community Foundation., and the Jury Foundation.

The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum is located on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University, 7400 Bay Road, University Center, Michigan. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday, 11:00am—5:00pm. Admission is free. For more information, call (989) 964-7125 or visit the Public Art Passport website.