Courtesy photo This is a photo of the new Eagle Landing sculpture outside the Alpena County Courthouse.

Alpena celebrated the dedication of two new sculptures on June 17 in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Alpena Bi-Path and the approaching 250th Anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The dedication of these installations is also part of the community-wide celebrations coordinated through the Alpena Sestercentennial Commission.

Conceived in 1974 for a 1976 Bicentennial tribute to the nation, the Alpena Bi-Path–originally known as the Alpena Sculptured Bikeway and Walkway–was envisioned as a pathway enhanced by public sculpture. The sculptured fountain at Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan became the first sculpture in 1978 and, for many years, the only realization of that original vision. It was not until the 45th Anniversary of Thunder Bay Arts Council, Inc., that the sculpture component of the Bi-Path was revived.

From inception, the Alpena Bi-Path has extended nearly 20 miles through the heart of the community. Since 2017, nearly two dozen sculptures have been added along its route. Representing a variety of artistic styles and materials, these works celebrate themes including forest waterways, blue herons, an armillary globe, local industry, beloved dogs, community pride, catboat heritage, the Thunder Bay River, and the adventurous spirit of sailing upon Thunder Bay.

Over the last several months, this series has explored the historical context of Alpena Bi-Path’s evolution while highlighting the artifacts, sculptures, memorials, and other installations installed along the pathway over the years.

For those who were unable to attend the June 17 dedications, the completion of these installations offers an opportunity for reflection here, particularly given the significance of these newest additions to the Bi-Path sculpture collection and as the last to be added by Thunder Bay Arts Council, as the Art Vision Alpena project has concluded its goals with these commemorative sculptures, on the 50th Anniversary of the Bi-Path.

The timing of the installations is especially meaningful. As anticipation builds for Independence Day celebrations and the nation’s Sestercentennial (250 years!), communities across America are reflecting on the people, places, history, and symbols that shape our national identity. Here in Alpena, the Alpena Bi-Path, its history, and these two new sculptures provide a meaningful avenue for expanded reflection.

The concurrent celebrations presented an ideal opportunity to dedicate two new sculptures that connect local and national identity, cultural symbolism, civic connections, and the natural world with public art and recreation.

The sculptures’ locations further reinforce the connections and significance of it all for this moment in time. Positioned at the heart of local government in our representative system of government, on the grounds of Alpena City Hall and the Alpena County Courthouse, these sculptural symbols of celebration, created by and shared within the community, become part of the civic landscape that defines who we are as a nation and a local community.

The sculptures were made possible through the efforts of many individuals and organizations–a true community endeavor–especially the artists and donors who made these possible and who have helped expand Alpena’s collection of large-scale public art in keeping with the original vision of a sculptured bikeway and walkway.

As with every sculpture in the series, the Besser Foundation and the City of Alpena have been instrumental in bringing it to fruition from start to finish. Support for these last two installations is joined by the Alpena County Youth and Recreation Committee, Alpena County, First Federal Legacy Foundation, Bedrock Contracting & Excavating, Keystone Rental Equipment, Fitzpatrick Hardware, and L&S Transit Mix Concrete as major benefactors, along with a plethora of community members who supported Thunder Bay Arts Council through numerous patron contributions and fundraising efforts. These gifts reflect a broad spirit of generosity and civic engagement from both the public and private sectors and will be indelibly credited in the commemorative plaques at each sculpture.

Birds have become a recurring theme among the sculptures that now populate the Alpena Bi-Path, perhaps no surprise, since the Thunder Bay Arts Council, Inc.’s symbol was historically a shorebird and is now the Blue Heron. Beginning with the Departure of the Great Blue Heron sculpture in 2017 and continuing through representations of various bird species, these newest additions, reflecting the eagle, remind us of the ideals, histories, shared landscapes, and horizons that continue to connect generations across time throughout the nation and here at home in Alpena.

These newest installations bring the Art Vision Alpena series full circle as the community celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Alpena Sculptured Bikeway and Walkway while approaching Independence Day during this historic season of remembrance and celebration.

With the 250th Anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence and the 50th Anniversary of the Alpena Bi-Path, there is no more fitting tribute to these milestones than a representation of national identity through nature, wildlife, and the soaring eagle.

Ann Gildner’s Eagle Landing, installed on the grounds of the Alpena County Courthouse within the newly established Fremont Park, features America’s national bird, a longstanding symbol of freedom.

The eagle has long represented strength, courage, independence, and the enduring spirit of liberty. Soaring above rivers, forests, and shorelines, it reflects the natural beauty and resilience that define our nation, the Alpena community, and Northeast Michigan. As a symbol of vision and perseverance, the eagle reminds us of the ideals that have united generations of Americans, both nationally and locally. One can see the fortitude of the eagle and the perseverance of the artist in her life-size representation of the national bird, with a nine-foot wing span landing on a tree that is pattern-welded and plasma-gouged, altogether composed of 2,300 pounds of raw welded metal, including stainless steel and brass, and featuring over 600 individually welded feathers that form this magnificent symbol of craftsmanship, artistry, and freedom.

Good art often leaves the observer asking questions, not only about its construction but also about its meaning. Located on the lawn of Alpena City Hall, Autumn Bildson’s Eye of the Beholder invites us to look more closely and consider what we see: a bird, an eagle, perhaps even a Thunderbird. Meticulously carved from Indiana limestone and weighing 800 pounds, the image suggests an eagle-like figure emerging from an almost Art Deco-inspired form, one shape flowing into another and blending movement, memory, and meaning. It reflects layers of identity and history woven together across time with tremendous thought, detail, and artistry.

The work also evokes the Thunderbird, a powerful figure in Indigenous traditions throughout the Great Lakes region. In many Native cultures, the Thunderbird represents strength, protection, transformation, and a spiritual connection between humanity and nature. By visually echoing both the eagle and the Thunderbird, the sculpture suggests an interwoven story of place–one that reaches beyond a single narrative and acknowledges the layered histories and cultures that shaped this land both before and after the founding of the United States and Alpena. It is interesting that the eagle has been represented by so many societies, cultures, and their systems of government throughout history, perhaps no surprise considering the eagle’s characteristics.

As the forms emerge from one another, the piece(s) become a meditation on America’s evolution itself: the blending of traditions, identities, histories, and visions of freedom. The rising sun, emerging over the Thunder Bay River, is etched into the surface of Eye of the Beholder, reminding us of our place in the scheme of all things. Both sculptures, uniquely crafted in style, form, and materials, remind us that symbols carry different meanings to different people and that communities are strengthened when those meanings are explored and embraced.

Together, the eagle and the Thunderbird symbolize vision, perseverance, and continuity. They remind us of the ideals, histories, and shared landscapes that continue to connect generations, both nationally and here in Alpena.

These newest and final installations are part of Thunder Bay Arts Council, Inc.’s Art Vision Alpena project, which seeks to enhance the community’s aesthetic quality while promoting recreation with art in nature along the Alpena Bi-Path. Community members are encouraged to take a walk or a bicycle ride and enjoy the unique opportunity to experience art in nature along the Alpena Bi-Path. Be sure to note the commemorative plaques at each sculpture, which explain the artwork, highlight the people who made the sculptures possible, and underscore art’s role in encouraging engagement and creating a unique sense of place in which to live, work, and recreate.