Five finalists selected for river walk sculpture project in Port Huron

By Andy Jeffrey – as featured in the Port Huron Times Herald

The Blue Water River Walk is one step closer to welcoming a new public art installation that reflects its natural beauty and community spirit.

After receiving 12 proposals from artists across Michigan and Wisconsin, the Blue Water River Walk Art Selection Committee has named five finalists for the project. Each artist will present a 3D model of their proposed sculpture during one-on-one meetings with the committee on Sept. 22.

*“Sugar,” a sculpture of a horse created from scrap metal, is one of the signature pieces along the Blue Water River Walk in Port Huron. The trail blends public art, nature and community history.*

“We’re thrilled to grow our collection in a way that celebrates our community and invites people to be part of the creative process,” said Natacha Hayden, program officer for community impact at the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.

The finalists are:

David Fry from St. Clair with Teepee to Tensegrity
Dairoll Medrano from Port Huron with Michigan Nature Totem Pole
Ken Kiernicki from Lenox with The Waltz Project
Jordyn-Lynne Denomme from East China with A Turtle On A Log
Scott Campbell from Fort Gratiot with 1869 City of Port Huron Steam Barge

According to Hayden, narrowing down the list was no easy task.

“Stella Clair,” a large metal sculpture of a sturgeon by artist Lou Rodriguez, sits along the Blue Water River Walk in Port Huron. The piece is one of several iconic artworks featured along the trail.

“The review process was challenging due to the high quality and diversity of the proposals we received,” she said. “But in the end, we’re confident that the five finalists represent great submissions that capture the River Walk character and vision for this project.”

Details of the proposed sculptures have not been released.

The winning artist will receive a $10,000 commission for design and fabrication, with installation planned for spring 2026. The sculpture will join other well-known pieces along the mile-long shoreline trail, such as Stella the Sturgeon, and Sugar the Horse and will be similar in size and style.

The community foundation is managing the project with support from the Port Huron Rotary Club. Organizers hope the new artwork will reflect the river walk’s key themes of nature, transformation and community, while blending with the rustic aesthetic of the site.

Once an industrial train yard, the Blue Water River Walk has been transformed over the past decade into a habitat for wildlife and a popular destination for residents and visitors. The public art along the trail has become a defining part of the experience, highlighting the area’s connection to the land and water.

*The entrance arch to the Blue Water River Walk in Port Huron is pictured along the St. Clair River. The one-mile trail is home to native wildlife, public art and scenic views of the shoreline.*

Final presentations are scheduled for Monday, Sept. 22, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Each artist will have about 10 minutes to walk the committee through their sculpture concept. A final selection is expected to be made the same day.

More information about the River Walk and the project is available at https://stclairfoundation.org/riverwalkart/.