Chocolay Township — There is art in the woods just off of M-28 outside Marquette, but the propaganda is more prominent. The artist, Tom Lakenen, shares not just his creativity but also his political views through the inventive metal sculptures and slogans here at Lakenenland.
That Lakenen can establish and operate a 24/7 sculpture park in the wilderness is a testament to what’s possible in the Upper Peninsula. It’s an expression of one man’s artistic and political freedom.
Lakenenland is a free-to-visit sculpture park. There is a bog walk for the truly adventurous. For those with small children who are growing tired of spending time in the car, you can at least get out and walk in the woods.
Metal structures tower magnificently over visitors. Those entering the trail are greeted by a large boat hull ornamented with auto pieces, traffic lights, and recycled scrap metal.
There is a sculpture of an octopus, rock bands, and robots linking their coil spring arms. Some of the pieces are inspiring works of art. But the rest are propaganda.
For example, one sculpture has a wedge being driven into the United States of America, with the date Nov. 2, 2004. On the wedge is written: “Economy/Jobs,” “Health care,” “Education,” “Iraq,” “Taxes,” “Moral Values,” and “Terrorism.”
On top of the wedge is a hammer with the letters “RTW” in front of it, held by a freestanding, sad figure that says “2012” and “Snyder,” an obvious reference to that governor’s passage of laws that allow workers to opt out of paying union dues as a condition of employment.
Another says “Genuine North American Corporate Greed PIG” over a map of the U.S. and a giant pink pig that says ENRON on the side and has an “Average American Worker” anxiously dodging feces coming out the back.
Another simply has a heart shape and “that Michigan woman” with the state’s outline as a stand-in. Perhaps it’s an homage to the hearty women of this state, but given the naked politicking elsewhere in the park, it’s certainly a reference to how President Donald Trump referred to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer a number of years ago.
The trite slogan isn’t any more valuable on metal than it would be on cheap campaign material paper. It’s still just liberal mindset garbage devoid of anything more than fawning appreciation for their champions.
Liberals have controlled the arts for so long that they’ve forgotten how to make real art that isn’t tainted by political messaging or identity politics. Aren’t you tired of having to sort out the good, true, and beautiful from the repugnant, feigned, and ugly?
I will admit that art is often political, such as exhibits that ignite culture wars by crossing societal boundaries or by riling up those in power. As my colleague Bobby Mars pointed out, controversial artists have drawn criticism for creating real art.
But that’s not what’s happening here. Here, the function of the structures is inherently political, to communicate a political message through an artistic format, to bludgeon the audience into accepting a viewpoint.
That’s what makes this country better than the critical view Lakenen’s pieces espouse: A welder can bootstrap a tourist attraction off a U.P. highway to share his political views.
He even has signs telling Chocolay Township and federal officials “No Trespassing.” All others are welcome, according to the signs in front of the spot. Apparently, the township’s Planning and Zoning Board has harassed Lakenen for eight years, according to another sign.
In what other countries do you have the right to so openly criticize and mock the authorities? And where else but the U.P. could one man build such a monument to his own creative and political ideas?
If you can handle how art is used here, stop in and celebrate the freedom we have to do whatever we want in our own woods, and welcome others to come see it—even if it’s twisted scraps of political junk.
Brendan Clarey is deputy editor of Michigan Enjoyer.
