Hidden Sanctuary Provides Art, Nature and Peace in Brighton

Making a quick turn off of Grand River into the driveway of Bonine's Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and following the curvy road to the end, lies a hidden sanctuary free for the public to explore and enjoy.

Oaken Transformations is a sculpture and poetry walk that takes visitors through a wooden trail and across an open meadow while enjoying pieces of art nestled into layers of natural landscape.

With help from the Suave Art foundation, Oaken Transformations was started in 2010 by Dr. Fred Bonine and his daughter Anya Cobler and is Bonine's "gift to the community."

A practicing oral maxillofacial surgeon in the Brighton area since 1984, Bonine decided to transform and develop what used to be his own personal hiking path into a community gem.

"My Dad is artistic but he's also a business man," Cobler said. "So, I think he's probably trying to fuse those two different parts of his life and I think he saw this as something he could do for the community that would be a great adjunct to his practice."

The winding half-mile trail features 20 renowned sculptures and a variety of juried poetry from artists, all with Michigan ties, that are displayed in a way to help visitors connect with their visual surroundings.

"She (Cobler) has ferreted out some very good talent here from Michigan, representing multiple universities," Bonine said. "So it nicely embraces the art community."

Adding poetry to the walk also enhances the experience, according to Cobler, who handpicked the selections that can be read or heard along the trail using electronic codes sent to visitors smartphones.

Although she initially resisted the idea of bringing technology to the trail, Cobler said adding the element of listening to a poet read their own work helps add to the experience.

"And it's their (visitor) choice if they want to use it," she said. 

From hour to hour, day to day, season to season, the walk is constantly changing, which is one of the most enjoyable things for Bonine and his daughter who walk the trail on a regular basis.

"It's a very soothing thing," Bonine said. "I've gone out in the rain and it's just a totally different character out there."

Hoping to continue to build their art collection and add more events such as an after dark walk guided by luminaries, Cobler said she is excited about the potential and possibilities the trail will bring. 

The Oaken Transformation Sculpture and Poetry Walk is free to the public Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. No reservations are required. 

Weekend events are also planned with the next event coming up November 17, an individual artist exhibit featuring Tad McKillop, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event is also free and open to the public.

For more information on the art work and poetry displayed at Oaken Transformations, visit their website.

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