Corey Hagelberg likes to challenge perceptions of the human and natural world. His work over the past 15 years helped him become the public art liaison at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City.

“His experience as an artist, educator and community advocate will help us think bigger about how public art can truly engage and inspire our entire region,” said Janet Bloch, executive director of LCA, in a press release.

Hagelberg has been doing just that as the co-founder and director of the Calumet Artist Residency in the Miller Beach Arts and Creative District in Gary. The organization was founded in 2012 to turn abandoned houses into assets for the community. It has hosted 35 artists over the past 10 years.

He is also pursuing an Master of Fine Arts in sculpture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Hagelberg is dedicated to connecting people, art and nature.

“I seek to emphasize and embrace opposites and contradictions in our everyday experiences,” he said in his artist statement on his website. “My work blurs the line between humor and tragedy, current and historical, high art and low art, natural and industrial, accusation and confession, and beautiful and grotesque. I hope that it will encourage the viewer to evaluate and challenge their own notions of meaning, value and beauty.”

The Health Foundation of La Porte is funding the part-time position at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts.