In Lyon Township, a baffling mystery has finally been resolved. The creator of the beloved iconic figure known as the “Orange Man on the Hill” or “Man in the City”, says that it was indeed the Township who had his 15-foot silhouette cut down, not hoodlums. This symbol which had been a familiar sight at James F. Atchison Memorial Park for a decade has been removed.
John Sauve, the artist behind the sculpture, got a letter from lawyers representing Lyon Township. The letter stated that actions to remove the sculpture were a result of “contact with individuals” due to received “numerous complaints from residents who found the sculpture inappropriate and frightening to their children”, he was taken aback, stating he wasn’t even given a heads up about it.
“They know it’s mine. Why not just a quick phone call? I would have been more than happy to work out a solution. Whatever that solution is, it’s better to work with me than to cut it down and not tell me,” he disclosed.
The letter also brought up a new issue, stating that, lights have been added to the statue, which seems to be an issue as it’s situated close to the airport. John has been given an ultimatum to remove the sculpture from the property by Wednesday, if not, the township would cut it into pieces and dispose of it.
“It’s disheartening. It’s challenging. It’s expensive. There are a lot of things I have to do to make this either go back up or go somewhere else. But I see nothing but opportunities. So, we’ll just see how it works out,” he expressed.
While the artist is saddened and challenged by the sudden removal of his creation, he remains optimistic about the future of the “Orange Man”, signifying hope amongst the local art enthusiasts.
