By Scott Sullivan
Editor
This time it’s official. A Saugatuck Center for the Arts “wave” of rowboats planned this summer for Coghlin Park — wrongly reported here Jan. 27 winning Saugatuck City Council approval — Monday did, in adjusted form.
The proposal, one of seven installations the Center plans locally marking its 20th anniversary, won conceptual approval at council’s Jan. 19 workshop but members wanted more information before formally giving it a green light.
The idea is a “wave” of ten 12-foot red rowboats “riding” from the SCA garden north of Culver Street through Coghlin’s east edge to the Kalamazoo Lake waterfront, to be installed starting June 7 and taken down Sept. 9.
In some areas of the park, community garden-filled boats will “ride” low, in others arch high and invite guests to walk beneath them. They will connect to a wave of blue sticks anchored with hardware for structural support, guiding the audience through the park to the lake.
The display will be one of seven area “Spaces for Discovery” installations the SCA plans this summer, all working with artists Jeremy Barnett and Jason Maracani based on stick and natural materials constructions.
Barnett and Maracani aim to use “everyday objects (many found in local environments) to call to mind natural local treasures such as the Kalamazoo River and lake, farm fields, woodlands, dunes and more.” Solar-powered lights are part of their installations.
The Coghlin structure will be self-supporting through wind and rain, and the audience can interact with the piece. It will not withstand extreme force, SCA executive director Kristin Armstrong told council.
The installation will withstand light climbing but should not be used as a jungle gym. Climbers climb at their own risk, Armstrong continued. Clear cautionary signage will be provided.
Other planned installation sites, most already approved, include the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center’s Pump House Museum in Saugatuck, Crane’s Pie Pantry west of Fennville, downtown Fennville and the Outdoor Discovery Center in Holland northeast of Saugatuck.
Council liked the idea but requested some more information Jan. 19 about how its scope and scale might affect Department of Public Works park maintenance and other summer events there such as Cow Hill Yacht Club’s annual Venetian Festival before formally signing off on it.
On Feb. 11, which Armstrong recalled as “a very cold, snowy day,” she met with Barnett, fellow SCA staff member Whitney Valentine; city manager Ryan Heise, deputy clerk Kate White and DPW head Scott Herbert; plus Nancy McDonnall representing Venetian Festival.
“We walked the area of the park that would ‘house’ the proposed outdoor installation,” reported Amstrong, “and as a team addressed:
“Lawncare: After discussion, Scott (Herbert) determined that the DPW would assume maintenance of the grass around the sculpture. The SCA volunteered to assist in any way with this task.
“Scott agreed to communicate with the SCA should he need help, at any time during the installation, with maintenance,” Armstrong continued. “At that time we would agree on a plan of action.
“Scott is providing the SCA with a map of irrigation lines and sprinkler heads. Jeremy (Barnett) will work around all lines and heads to mitigate any unintentional interference;
“Installation placement vis-á-vis park events: After walking the space together, all were in agreement that the proposed installation footprint will not interfere with regular guest traffic nor with public events.
“Jeremy and Nancy (McDonnall) spoke specifically about Venetian Festival’s stage layout. Jeremy is building a plan for Venetian so the stage company has an exact location for placement of the stage. Nancy was very positive about this;
“Communication and collaboration: We are all in agreement we will work together to ensure guest safety and maximum enjoyment in the park. The group has been in communication since our walk-through and will continue close communication.
“The SCA is absolutely flexible with regard to the City’s needs (as well as Venetian Fest or other public events) — we want to be a good neighbor AND create an installation that everyone is proud of and benefits from,” Armstrong said.
