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Monday, October 06, 2003 |
 
In the late 70's, the state decided to spearhead a beautification project on the Capitol Plaza. William Milliken, then governor, convened a Special Arts Commission that decided it would like this project to be thought-provoking. After seeing hundreds of potential projects, the SAC chose a project design by environmental artist Michael Heizer. Funding for the $540,000 sculpture comes from a number of foundations (including the National Endowment from the Arts and the Kresge Foundation), the Millikens themselves as well as other private donors, and state tax money. The completed sculpture, "This Equals That," is dedicated to the people of Michigan on September 25, 1980.
At first, public reaction is very positive. People are predicting that the sculpture will be a big draw to the capital city, and will be featured on postcards and sweatshirts. However, when Milliken leaves office and the Special Arts Commission is disbanded - along with the budget allocations for the sculpture - public opinion turns against it. During the next administration, the sculpture sat silent. The Lansing State Journal, once a project booster, begins to refer to "This Equals That" as "the Pepto tablets." During the Capitol restoration project in the early 1990's, the colored concrete bottom of the sculpture was removed, and the shapes put on little concrete "feet."
The final injustice is visited on the sculpture when, after years of neglect, it becomes the last official victim of Governor John Plunder - er, Engler. Alledgedly it was causing water damage to the underground parking lot below. Engler administration officials claimed that they'd restore the sculpture. However, they tore it down right before they left office. Nor is there money left in the state budget to restore it, disappointing many Lansing art lovers. "This Equals That" sits in a box in a state storage area. Worse yet, the Department of Budget and Transportation, who had jurisdiction over the plaza grounds, neglected to inform the artist they were tearing down his sculpture. (Nor did they bother informing the SAC, who found out when Daniel Sturm, the City Pulse reporter covering the story, called to interview them about it.) The Lansing State Journal, never one not to rub salt in a wound, publishes an op-ed piece from a former reporter, John Albright, who says that they should "truck it to the dump." He also says that Lansing needs something "more Norman Rockwell and less Picasso."
Sources:
Daniel Sturm, City Pulse articles:
"How Michigan Stores Its Art Treasures In A Box" December 4, 2002 (Picture 2, Daniel Sturm)
"Art Patrons Want To Know Fate Of Heizer Sculpture" December 11, 2002
"Neglect, Not Safety, Likely Undoing Of Heizer Work" December 24, 2002 (Picture 1, from University Archives, MSU)
9:23:44 PM 
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I've had something stuck in my craw since last December, and I've finally decided to write about here in my blog. This story has everything – wanton destruction, attempted urban renewal, art, and a slow-brewing culture war simmering in a Midwestern city. Sounds tasty, doesn’t it? So let's dig in. I've broken this up into three sections. Part 1 will premiere shortly, part 2 will hopefully be posted tomorrow, and part 3 on Wednesday. If you have any comments, please post them, as this is a topic area I'm particularly interested in, and am curious about others think. Thanks!
7:55:21 PM
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© Copyright 2003 Jennifer Wood.
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