Lyon Twp. Lands in Trouble After Ordering Removal of Iconic Sculpture

In a surprising turn of events, Lyon Township is in a bit of a pickle. The cause? An argument between the local government and artist John Sauve over the removal of his sculpture.

The Infamous “Man in the City”

If you’ve passed through Lyon Township, you’ve probably seen it. A silhouette of a man with a hat, crafted out of steel and painted bright orange. Standing atop a hill in Atchison Park, this 20-feet tall statue has been waving at I-96 drivers for over a decade. Sad news for the art lovers, as this iconic art piece was recently cut down and ordered to be removed by the township officials.

The Unexpected Removal

Sauve, the creator of this metal giant, shared that he was not informed about the removal. He only noticed it being missing on one of his regular interstate drives. The artist was later informed through a letter, asking him to remove his artwork by the next week. The letter claimed that the sculpture had upset some residents who found it “inappropriate and frightening.”

Artist’s Displeasure

Sauve defended his artwork, stating that art is meant to stir up conversations. He showed disappointment in how the township approached the matter. He also emphasized that he wants to find the mid-ground to save his art from being cut into pieces.

The Unexpected Support

Here comes the twist! Not everyone in the township’s board agreed with the removal. Trustee Kristofer Enlow admitted that he was not even consulted about its removal. He spoke in favour of public art and considered the sculpture a good sight. In fact, he was unaware of the removal until it already happened.

Meanwhile, Sauve has already been offered to place his artwork in three other cities. He appreciates the welcoming gestures, but still wishes to see the ‘Man in the City’ standing on the Lyon hilltop where he envisioned it 25 years ago.

Stay tuned for more updates and let’s see if ‘Man in the City’ finds its way back to the hill or finds a new address.