We need your help returning Sailboat/Trees to Covell Park!

As you may have noticed, the Sailboat/Trees sculpture by George Ramsay was temporarily removed at the end of May. Upon removing the sculpture, we discovered multiple anchor bolts securing the sculpture were rusted. No amount of lubrication or heat was able to loosen or remove them so unfortunately three of the bolts had to be cut. Because of this, we are facing unexpected expenses. Each of the three ‘masts’ for the sculptural sails has an 18” concrete pier below ground in which the anchor bolts were secured when they pored the piers. These piers are necessary to ensure Sailboat/Trees, which was placed in an area that was previously marshland, can withstand the high amount of wind it experiences from its location on the open causeway of Covell Park. Because we have multiple bolts that are no longer usable, we must bore out each concrete pier, pour new ones, and secure new stabilizing bolts.

This project has already received significant support from the White Lake Community. We have been fortunate enough to receive grant funding from the White Lake Community Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County and the City of Whitehall – totalling $14,000. However, this new expense has brought our overall costs to $21,000. This means we are $7,000 short. Will you help us return this iconic sculpture to Covell Park?

You may be wondering: why was the sculpture removed in the first place?

The sculpture, installed in 2010 has spent 16 years exposed 24/7 to our ever fluctuating Michigan climate. Because of this exposure the powder-coated surface began to crack and peel and the rust from the fasteners holding the aluminum sheets which form the sculpture's sails/trees started impacting the surrounding surface. Sailboat/Trees looked very weathered and worn. Knowing that issues would only get worse, the ACWL-Nuveen Art Walk Committee made the decision to have the sculpture removed and restored. The restoration work is being done by Industrial Services of West Michigan in Grand Haven. Their team is taking the sculpture apart and striping off the original powder coated surface. Once cleaned all of the sculpture's parts will then be primed with both a rust-inhibitive primer and a 2-part catalyzed epoxy. The final step will involve painting three coats of a 2-part catalyzed polyurethane paint matched to the original colors. This process is expected the extend the lifetime of this iconic sculpture by 25-30 years.

Any funds raised beyond the $7,000 needed for this project will be put toward maintaining other sculptures along the Art Walk.

Restore Sailboat/Trees

Help us bring this iconic sculpture back to Covell Park.