How To Save A Pink Landscape

    When George Washington's trowel, the one he used to lay the cornerstone of the United States Capitol building, was brought to Detroit in 1922 in order to perform a similar task for what would become the world's largest Masonic Temple; Cass Park, positioned across the street, endured the thousands who had come to watch the ceremony.  More than likely, the park yawned.  For though it appears the temple and the park, along with Albert Kahn's 1927 Kresge World Headquarters which graces the park's western edge, were all strategically laid out in order to create a welcoming public square; the truth is Cass Park had already been in place for several decades.  On S.A. Mitchell's 1872 "Plan of Detroit" it is clearly marked, right there south of Bagg street, now Temple street.

     In all this time the park has certainly seen its share of changes.  It used to have, as its central feature, a geyser-like fountain surrounded by smaller jets of water all gushing into a shallow, circular pool.   Upon the fountain's demise, and complete removal, the plumbing was adapted for a drinking fountain.  Today it is merely a waterless pedestal.  The benches, which used to line the walking paths, have also all disappeared.  Same goes for the playground equipment.  There is, of course, the usual blowing debris and scattered, cornerless liquor bottles.  And there seems to be a lot of people who take lunch to the park, eating half-inch-square sandwiches packed lovingly by their mothers in tiny ziploc bags.  At least that's what I like to believe is the reason for this detritus. Three flagless poles anchor the southern edge while, at the north entrance, a statue of the poet Robert Burns stands with its back toward the park as though the park were, you guessed it, a forgotten old acquaintance.
    It is not all bleak though.  Nothing stops the birds singing from the trees, the trees which still flower in the spring and change color in the fall.  Three years ago a valiant attempt was made to enliven one corner with unique exercise equipment made from lumber and tires.  (A privately funded venture).  For the most part, on most days, the park is peaceful, even if there is a lack of seating.  It is still nice to ride your bike through at the very least.

     The reward for visiting Cass Park, for me anyway, has always been to see the sculpture which holds a commanding presence in the middle of the park.  Three iron pipes jut at an angle from atop a slight hill before bending ninety degrees back to the ground.  It can appear mechanical, as though it has a functional importance in keeping the park running; but any mechanical purpose is instantly belied by its color: a shocking, brilliant pink.  This pink against the greens of summer has always been a sight to behold; while the whites of winter, along with its bare black branches, also create a most remarkable tableau. 
    This is the work of James L. Lawton, who is currently a professor and studio artist at Michigan State University.  It was placed in the park in 1978 and the name of it is "Pink Landscape—Three Trusses Plus."   Professor Lawton informed me that "the work is meant to play off of both feminine and masculine qualities in an urban environment."   It was one of a handful of pieces selected by the Detroit Recreation Department's Advisory Council in a juried competition (which grew out of a 1976 competition to design a bicycle tour sign) called "People's Art 200 Plus One―Celebration For A City."  Unfortunately, the sculpture is no longer pink.  Sometime within the last year someone decided it would look better white.

     How did this happen?  No one seems to know.  I've been told by the city's Parks and Recreation Department that nobody was given permission to paint the sculpture.  What I have been able to discern though, after a little investigation, is that a group of charitable organizations got together in August of 2009 in an effort to beautify the park in preparation for a performance to benefit the homeless by the Motown recording artist Kem.  Two of these orginizations stated on their websites that they were looking for volunteers to "clean, paint and beautify Cass Park."  Afterwards one of their sites claimed their volunteers helped by "cleaning up garbage and painting."  Now, the sculpture is the only thing in the park with a new coat of paint on it, really it's the only thing with paint on it at all except for a couple of old wooden signs.  So you can see why one might think the sculpture was inappropriately painted by one of these organizations at this time.  Certainly I am not questioning the noble cause of helping the homeless.  But it should be understood; even if your charity is handing out million-dollar bills, you do not have the right to paint a piece of public art whatever color you deem fit.  Both of these groups, however, upon my inquiry, have denied painting the sculpture.  So there is no proof and we will probably never know who committed this misdeed.  Ironically, photos of Kem's performance that day show him dressed in pink. 
    It has been almost half a year since I first contacted Professor Lawton, asking if he had been informed about any repainting of his work.  My hope was that it had merely been primed and readied for a fresh coat of pink.  Alas, this was not the case.  He told me there had been other occasions where the work had been inappropriately painted and the city had contacted him for assistance with restoring it to its proper color.  Times have changed.  Now, of course, Detroit is broke.  Not to say the city isn't concerned; response from the Parks and Recreation Department, when informed of the inappropriate repainting, has been swift and helpful but in the end there is no money to do anything about it.
    Professor Lawton has been kind enough to work out a concise list of materials and their cost, along with the proper procedure needed to restore the sculpture; and needless to say, the specifics for the correct shade of pink. I have submitted the proper paperwork to the city requesting permission to paint the work properly.  I have also lined up some friends willing to help me restore the sculpture.  Professor Lawton has also expressed willingness to come here and assist.  Unfortunately, there is still no money.
    So here's your chance to help.  The estimated cost for this is $343.83.   With some supplies I am able to contribute I think we can get this down to an even $300, which is mostly the cost of the highly durable paint needed.  This would cover the cost of cleaning, priming and painting the sculpture. You will see, to the right, a donation button [Note: This project has been funded!] which I have set up through PayPal in an effort to raise enough to save this work of art.
    Now, I know for a fact that at least six people read this blog but I think asking each of you to donate $50 is asking a lot.  So I'm asking you to email, tweet, reblog (convenient buttons located below) or do whatever you can so maybe 60 people will donate $5 each, or better yet, 6000 people donate a nickel each.
    There is a question which echoes perpetually throughout Detroit.  That question is:  "How does this happen?"   In this case it happens when people stop caring, or even noticing, that anything is wrong.  This is how things slowly fall apart.  Cass Park may never have a fountain again, or a playground, or even a bench to sit on; but that doesn't mean we should let it all go to waste.  As long as "Pink Landscape" is white, or any other color than the one it was meant to be, it will be a sad symbol of one more thing that has happened to our city.  If you can, please help turn things around.


(Photo of what "Pink Landscape―Three Trusses Plus" should look like)