I was on my way home from visiting the Peony Garden at the University of Michigan Nichols Arboretum this weekend when I decided to stop at Gallup Park.
It’s been a couple months since I last visited Gallup, and I wanted to see waterbirds on the Huron River.
Close to dusk, I pulled into the parking lot of the small craft boat launch east of Huron Parkway.
As I stepped out of the car and turned to walk to the path I take for birdwatching, I was pleasantly surprised to see a new art installation at the top of a ridge near the shore.
“Canoe Fan”, created by Chicago-based artist Victoria Fuller, is a sculpture made out of recycled aluminum canoes in a half-circle formation.
When I saw the sculpture, it reminded me of a peacock.
Beautiful sculpture.
According to Fuller:
The holes are a design element that renders the canoes useless, and allows wind to pass through. Boats symbolize passage from one world into the next. It is a portal and symbol of passage, unfolding, flowering.
Learn more about Canoe Fan, how it was created, and see photos of the installation on Fuller’s CODAworx showcase page.
Canoe Imagine Art Project
Fuller’s piece is one of several artworks installed along the Huron River, part of the Canoe Imagine Art Project, an Ann Arbor canoe-themed public art installation.
The goal of the project is to celebrating the history and attributes of the river and the city’s park system.
Earlier this year, the public was asked to vote for their favorite design. I was glad to learn people were able to vote online or in person at the Gallup Canoe Livery at Gallup Park.
If you’re in the southeast Michigan area, stop by Gallup Park to check out the Canoe Fan!
Nice picture of my sculpture and a very good article about it too. Thank you! Victoria Fuller – http://victoriafullerart.com/
Hi Victoria,
Thank you for your comment. Glad you enjoyed the photo. Congrats on having your sculpture as part of the Canoe Imagine Art Project!