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“Canary in a Coal Mine” welded painted steel sculpture is the first public art piece in the township

A yellow, 11-foot sculpture has been installed at the Bluestar Highway roundabout in Saugatuck Township – making it the first public piece of art in the township. The “Canary in a Coal Mine” welded painted steel sculpture, created by Ohio artist Shawn Morin, was installed on Thursday, May 22.

“We’re thrilled to unveil the ‘Canary in a Coal Mine’ sculpture as the first public art piece in Saugatuck Township,” said Saugatuck Township Manager Daniel DeFranco. “This sculpture not only speaks to the environmental challenges that face our region, but it is a welcoming beacon to the ‘Art Coast of Michigan.’”

The sculpture was funded in part by a $4,050 grant from the Saugatuck Douglas Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and a $1,000 donation from art gallery, Capizzo Studio, in Saugatuck Township. It relates to the phase, “canary in a coal mine,” dating back to 1911 when coal miners would take a canary into a mine. According to Morin, the bird would fly out of the mine when the bird sensed carbon monoxide, an environmental danger with potentially fatal consequences. While the practice is no longer used, the phrase continues to live on.

“The contemporary ‘canary in a coal mine’ is sending a danger sign that our environment is being destroyed,” Morin said about the meaning of his sculpture. “Without action and awareness of the current situation, the environment dangers will surround us and will become deadly. We need a canary to wake up all who ignore their carbon foot print. The theme of the sculpture speaks to world environmental issues that are the same challenges faced in the Saugatuck area.”

In his description of the Canary in the Coal Mine sculpture, Morin explains that the two yellow shapes at the top and bottom of the art piece suggest a bird form that has been transformed. The long columns represent the coal mine shaft where the space between is narrow and almost impossible to enter.

The single-lane roundabout, at the intersection of Blue Star Highway and Old Allegan Road, was constructed in the spring of 2024 in order to optimize traffic movement efficiently and improve safety at the intersection. It opened to the public last July.

Saugatuck Township will host a public dedication event for the roundabout sculpture later this summer.

“The ‘Canary in a Coal Mine’ sculpture was identified and recommended for inclusion in the area’s public art collection by the Saugatuck Douglas Fennville Arts Initiative, headed by Maryjo Lemanski, a local resident and former owner of the Water Street Gallery,” said DeFranco. “It’s a landmark for Saugatuck Township and greatly enhances our busy roundabout. We look forward to holding a dedication ceremony for our area residents and the public later summer.”

About the Artist

Shawn Morin leads the Sculpture program at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where he has served as chair of Three-Dimensional Studies, graduate coordinator, and assistant director in the School of Art throughout his 27-year tenure. His work his exhibited throughout North America and has found permanent homes in more than 20 public collections and 35 private collections. Working primarily in bronze, stone, steel, stainless steel, glass, and wood, Morin’s current projects include large-scale sculpture for both public and private venues and clients.