Proposed “Lake Deity” Sculpture Aims to Create Landmark Gathering Place

Proposed “Lake Deity” Sculpture Aims to Create Landmark Gathering Place on Lake Michigan Shore

Lake Michigan holds a special place in the lives of residents and visitors across Southwest Michigan. Sculptor and public artist Foster Willey, who grew up in St. Joseph just steps from the lake, is proposing a large-scale public artwork to honor that enduring connection.

Titled Lake Deity, the 15-foot-high sculpture is envisioned for installation at Jean Klock Park. Designed as both a tribute and a gathering place, the work will serve as a sculptural landmark that engages the public while promoting cultural and ecological awareness.

Willey has completed the preliminary design and is now working with community leaders, arts advocates, and regional partners to advance and support the project. The proposal has received approval from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

The public is invited to learn more at a presentation by Willey at the Benton Harbor Public Library on Thursday, May 21, at 4 p.m. The event will outline the project, design details, and opportunities for community support. Admission is free and open to the public.

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Summer Solstice Alignment
The proposed site, located near Harbor Shores Resort, offers a dramatic natural setting for the sculpture. Lake Deity is designed to face west, with its concentric form aligned to frame the sunset on the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year.

“Cultures around the world celebrate the Summer Solstice as a moment of gathering and reflection,” Willey said.
“Drawing from classical and modernist traditions, the sculpture is envisioned as a striking form — a living monument to the role the lake plays in the life and culture of the Southwest Michigan community.”

Design and Fabrication
The sculpture will be constructed of stainless steel on a cast stone base with a surrounding flagstone plaza. The base will incorporate four bronze masks representing the four seasons. Willey will fabricate the sculpture in his Detroit studio. Engineering, installation, site preparation, and lighting design will be completed in collaboration with Creative Landscape and Design.

About the Artist
A graduate of St. Joseph High School, Willey has created monumental public works throughout the Midwest, including numerous commissions in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Since returning to Michigan, he has continued developing projects for public spaces and exhibiting his work, including recent presentations at ARS Gallery and the Krasl Art Center, where Lake Deity was introduced in the Lab Gallery.

The project reflects a longstanding goal in Willey’s practice: to create a major work that honors the spirit of Lake Michigan while serving as a meaningful place of gathering for the community. For more information about the Lake Deity project and Foster Willey’s public art practice, visit www.fosterwilley.com.

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