b'August and Peggy MatuzakA Living Legacy for Public Art A thriving art culture. Galleries. Murals. Sculptures. Live theatre. Music festivals. Film festivals.We tend to think these assets are mostly available to those who live in or visit big cities. But on the beautiful shores of Lake Huron, right here in northeast Michigan, that colorful, vibrant arts culture is exactlywhatwefind.August and Peggy Matuzak are both artists, avid supporters of the entire arts community, and lifelong residents of Alpena. They have turned their love of the arts into a legacy and feast for the eyes from whichourcommunitieswillbenefitforever.When a project to create large art sculptures around Alpena kicked off in the 1970s, there was plentyofexcitement,butverylittlefunding.Infact,theprojectpeteredoutafterthefirstsculpture,the fountain in front of Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan, was installed in 1978. The project recently regained momentum with the help of Timothy Kuehnlein, the Matuzaks, and others who worked to revive it.The Matuzaks, who owned an art gallery in downtown Alpena for three years after retirement, say Alpenas natural beauty makes the area the perfect canvas for large-scale public art.The sculptures provide us with something unexpected in a small town. They are there for everyone: Passion with a Purpose 3'