BENTON HARBOR — It’s a short timeframe, but an impactful exhibit by the artist who created the “I Am The Greatest” sculptures in Benton Harbor will greet guests for one month.

John Sauve, known in the area for his Muhammad Ali-inspired sculptures that pepper the city of Benton Harbor, has created a new exhibit titled “A Man in Detroit,” which is open for one month only, from April 8 to May 8, at the ARS Gallery.

The exhibit includes works that are are limited edition images from the Man in the City project in Detroit, along with posters, tees, and maquettes (mini sculptures) of the MAN and more, all commemorating the efforts the artist has gone through to help with the growth and development of the city of Detroit.

On April 23, the gallery will host a talk with the artist beginning at 6 p.m. The event will feature small bites, a wine reception and live music following the talk.

Leaders at the ARS Gallery say they are excited to feature a gallery talk by Mr. Sauve to share all the great things happening in Detroit and how public art changes a community.

The gallery opens to the public at noon April 8.

 

History of the MAN — Man in the City:

Public Art Project

Artist: John Sauve

Michigan artist John Sauve has developed an exciting public art project called “Man in the City.”

The project places 43-inch flat stylized orange metal men on the rooftops of buildings.

Sauve explains his goal as follows: “To activate the skyline, and encourage people to look around. In the process of looking and finding, one re-assesses one’s own position in the world and becomes aware of one’s scale within the very fabric of the city.

The ‘Man in the City’ project creates a metaphor for urban life and all the contradictory associations – alienation, ambition, anonymity, and fame.”

“Man in the City” is as much about the sculpture as it is about the people and the locations involved in the project. Each sculpture location is selected based on the architecture of the building upon which the piece has been recommended for installation, the building’s significance and the relationship to other sculpture locations in the project.

 

About the artist

With more than 25 years experience in the realm of public art and commissioned art, Sauve has a large number of pieces that have been commissioned or installed temporarily in Chicago, Birmingham, Tokyo and Port Huron/Sarnia. Additionally, he was commissioned to do a series of sculptures for the North American International Auto Show.

Sauve has exhibited at the Detroit Opera House, UDetroit Cafe, Governors Island, various locations throughout Chicago, the Motor City Movie House, and in Port Huron/Sarnia.

He has also curated exhibits at the Detroit Institute of the Arts (DIA).

Sauve is also the curator of the Brighton Biennial and has experience in pulling together an impressive collection of large-scale works of art created by sculptors with regional, national and, in some cases, international reputations.

For more information contact Anna at arsieber@sbcglobal.net, or call (269) 208-4409 you can also go to our website at: annarussoart.com