Little Green Man Returns to Downtown Brighton

The Brighton Arts & Culture Commission will welcome the “Bring Your Chalk and Draw on Me” sculpture back to downtown Brighton on July 3 at 5 pm with a brief unveiling ceremony held next to the Mill pond pavilion. 

Some of the Brighton community knows this sculpture by Adnan Charara as “The Little Green Man,” the cartoonish head with three bowler hats that welcomed the stroller crowd to the Imagination Station from July 2009 to March 2012. 

Other than the comical appearance of the piece, perhaps the most unique characteristic of Charara’s work is the fact that it is painted with chalkboard paint so children can draw on him… an open invitation by the artist for participation from youngsters. 

Unfortunately, the original piece had to be removed and a new one created due to extensive damage from vandals. It appeared by the looks of the damage that the artwork was smashed with a baseball bat or stone, caving in one of the sides such that the piece could not be repaired.

According to Matt Modrack, DDA Director, “The Charara piece welcomed the stroller crowd to the Pavilion and Imagination Station as they came in from the Millpond parking lot… it served as notice to one and all that the Imagination Station and Pavilion, and Millpond for that matter, were designated Kid Fun Zones! It is maddening to say the least that somebody was thoughtless enough to take that away from the children.” 

As a consequence of the vandalism to “Bring Your Chalk and Draw on Me” as well as the damage sustained by the Imagination Station play equipment, pavilion furniture and other works of art in the City’s Biennial Sculpture Exhibit, the City has increased the security at the Millpond area.

According to Dana Foster, Brighton City Manager: "It is great news to be able to have "the Green Man" interactive sculpture back in our community. I know that the Green Man was popular for children of all ages to visit and creatively draw upon. We're happy to say that we have recently installed some new security measures near the Green Man location to deter future vandalism which caused the need for the Green Man to be replaced. We are appreciative of the artist for making another sculpture for us. 

Our recently-installed security measures have included a floodlight to improve the lighting at night-time and additional security cameras as part of our downtown surveillance camera system. The City of Brighton looks forward to continued public enjoyment of all of the artworks that are part of Downtown Brighton's public art museum without walls."

Claudia Roblee, City Council member and Chairperson of the Brighton Arts and Culture Commission, is also happy to see the sculpture back in the Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit. 

She said, “the reinstallation of "Bring Your Chalk and Draw On Me" will bring joy to the hearts of the children that visit the Imagination Station, including my own grandchildren. They have been asking when it will be back. What I like about this particular piece of art is that it is so interactive. It inspires creativity and imagination. I am grateful that it is back and grateful that the BACC chose a piece of art that the children of our community can relate to and have fun with."

The “Little Green Man” re-install is one of several arts events in Downtown Brighton this summer… which also includes the Brighton Fine Arts Festival on August 2-4, 2013 and the recent installation of seven artworks from the Detroit Institute of Arts “Inside|Out Program.”

Information provided in press release.