Lakeshore Art Festival theme honored through PADNOS public art project

The Lakeshore Art Festival, in partnership with the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, will honor the festival’s 2020 theme “The Art of Recycling” through the PADNOS Public Art Project.

Lakeshore Art Festival 2020 was slated to take place July 3 and 4 in downtown Muskegon but was cancelled due to health concerns over COVID-19.

Lakeshore Art Festival and PADNOS, a regional recycler of metals, plastics, paper and electronics, have partnered to create an exhibition of four public sculptures along Western Avenue in downtown Muskegon, until Fall 2020. All the sculptures have been constructed from at least 90% recycled materials donated by PADNOS.

“PADNOS is thrilled to be a partner on this project and help bring awareness of the power of recycling to the Muskegon community,” said Ben Irwin, President of PADNOS Muskegon Recycling. “This project supports our mission of community outreach and seeing possibility in expendability.”

The artists selected through a jurying process were Larry Sybesma, Chip Vander Wier, Sherri Balaskovitz and four artists of EA-Craftworks—Mark Schentzel, Alex Kallio, Tom Hutchins and Jack Cantu. Artists received a stipend to produce the public art piece and if chosen to be a permanent art display in downtown Muskegon, additional funds will be paid as the purchase price of the sculpture. Artists will also have the opportunity to sell their work.

Cindy Larsen, president of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce commented, “We are excited to still have a portion of Lakeshore Art Festival live on this year. This project will bring additional public art to the Muskegon Lakeshore community that both residents and visitors can enjoy this summer.”

The PADNOS Public Art Project is funded in conjunction with PADNOS, Quality Tool & Stamping, Clifford Buck Construction Company and through a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

For more information visit lakeshoreartfestival.org.