"Growing Progress" by Thomas Sheerin
The sculpture titled, "Growing Progress" was created and installed in 2016 by Michigan artist, Thomas Sheerin and is made entirely of repurposed metal. You can find the sculpture on the corner of West Jefferson and Harrison Streets in downtown Grand Ledge. The inspiration for the sculpture was to honor the Huhn family and their legacy in Grand Ledge from farming to selling Chevrolets. In 1919, Leo Huhn broke from the family's agriculture roots and opened a Chevrolet dealership in Grand Ledge.
Standing 10-feet tall and 11-feet in length, the base of "Growing Progress" represents a plowshare transforming into a wheat crop to pay homage to the Huhn's family beginning as immigrants whose livelihood was based in agriculture. The top of the sculpture represents an eagle/jet-shaped hood ornament similar to a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air and signifies the country post-World War II, strong and growing into the Jet Age. The entire sculpture signifies that after years of war and depression, the country is looking up.
