Independence Crossing

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, has been associated with shipping and trade for hundreds of years. Inspired by the history and culture of these industries, Terrence Karpowicz created Independence Crossing, a monumental artwork that appeals to local identity.

During a visit to Sault Ste. Marie, Karpowicz encountered a group of workers rebuilding a wooden schooner by hand.  As a master craftsman, Karpowicz was captivated by the crew’s commitment to manual shipbuilding techniques. This experience, combined with his love of the vessel’s strong, sweeping form, shaped Karpowicz’s thinking about the border station project.

Reminiscent of a ship’s hull, Independence Crossing serves as the station’s main service desk. The curved members are constructed with wood reclaimed from a razed, 19th-century Michigan barn. Each of these pieces is connected by a series of butterfly joints carved from wreckage of The Independence, the first steamer on Lake Superior remembered because it exploded and sank in the locks near Sault Ste. Marie in 1853. Through form and function, Independence Crossing engages the community’s past and present, providing a cultural touchstone for current and future generations to enjoy.