‘Cave People’ on Display in Detroit Lakes City Park Create Buzz

“cave person” on display at the Detroit Lakes City Park

DETROIT LAKES (KDLM) – Cave people are on display at the Detroit Lakes City Park.

The Sculptures hidden in the Detroit Lakes City Park by Project 412 were created by artist Zach Schumack. Zug Zug and Zara, two mannequin cave people ensconced in plexiglass will be on display. Originally Zug Zug was commissioned for an ad agency, but during Covid, Schumack and his Leonic Collective worked with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to hide Zug Zug in Theodore Wirth Park. Now Zug Zug and his companion Zara are spending their winter in Detroit Lakes.

The public is invited to look for the cave people and many have noticed them, the Detroit Lakes Police Department received at least one call for service for a “suspicious block of ice” recently. Schumack said his favorite part is when kids find discover the creatures. “I was talking to a little kid, and he realized that it wasn’t an actual real caveman,” Schumack said. “He was like, ‘wait what? it’s not real?’ and you could see the look of a blown mind. I think that’s what art is supposed to do. It’s supposed to make you wonder, guess and talk about it.”

The Detroit Lakes City Park has also once again been lit with holiday lights. More than 21,000 feet of wire and over 7,000 bulbs are lighting up the gazebo roof lines and about 15 trees located between the gazebo and Washington Avenue.