Scope and ContentGeorge Seurat in Saugatuck by James Schmiechen One of the most eccentric (and most observed) buildings in Saugatuck is the public restroom building at the riverside in Wicks Park. What makes it eccentric is that its exterior is covered by a reproduction of the famous painting "Sunday Afternoon on the lie de La Grande-Jatte" by Georges Seurat (1859-91). The well-known French painter never visited Saugatuck but his famous painting (done pointillistic style with flicks, or dots) has come to symbolize a stroll in the park for millions of his admirers. The original hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago. One story has it that the painting "just appeared one morning" on the walls of the rest room in the park. Not so. The answer of how this Saugatuck replica came about was revealed in a recent conversation at the Museum. The "Saugatuck Seurat" was painted by artist Carol Miron of Holland in 1977. The idea came from Frank Pluta who was the head of the Parks for the three local units, Douglas, Saugatuck and Saugatuck Township, at that time and who laid out the park. He suggested that Carol, who studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, go to Chicago and study the painting and reproduce it on the building that was being refurbished. The park layout was financed with Federal CETA program funds, with considerable local support from Bob Gardner. The land had been purchased many years earlier, but it was leased to private parties until 1975 when the Village of Saugatuck began turning it into a proper park. Carol now lives in Colorado, but her parents still live in Holland. About ten years ago when she was home for a visit she agreed to refurbish the image to give many more seasons of visitors a surprise in art history! What kind of paint did she use? Frank thinks it was acrylic.