Here’s a wee roundup of some crafty news I’ve been paying attention to (and so should you!) from the Mitten.
From Motor City to Maker City
In case you haven’t heard yet, Michigan is hosting its very first Maker Faire this summer (July 31- Aug. 1, to be exact) in Dearborn at the Henry Ford. As plans progress here in Michigan, I’ll be reporting back on the latest and greatest with the event. (To say the crew around here is excited is an understatement.) We had an introduction meeting late last year, but this past Sunday was our very first committee meeting and I was there, representing the crafty contingent.
We had a great meeting of the minds, lead by CRAFT’s own Sherry Huss, brainstorming arts groups around the Detroit area that would be great to see involved with Maker Faire. When you’re given the challenge of identifying all the crafty folks in a given area, it’s amazing how big the list gets right away. There are lots of plans that are still cooking, but I’d love to know if you have a group or individual you’d like to see represent the crafty side of Maker Faire. Feel free to let me know by leaving a comment here.
Gwen Frostic Shop Looks for New Owner
Gwen Frostic was an amazing artist and printmaker living in Benzie County in northern Michigan. Opening up her now-famous shop in 1964 in Benzonia, Gwen’s nature-themed prints gave a quirky look at Michigan’s woodland inhabitants. Her stationery had a signature look- ripped edges, pastel colors, always packaged together with the highest attention to detail.
I met Gwen when I was 10 years old. I was on vacation and my family took a tour of Presscraft Papers. Gwen also lived in her shop, so lucky visitors often saw her working on a project. She signed a painting for me that hung in my room until I was in my teens.
Gwen died in 2001, but her shop remained open. That is until late last year. The shop was left to a friend and was closed in 2009 when the property went into foreclosure, according to a report from the Traverse City Record-Eagle, after the owners used it as collateral for another property.
Take some time to get to know Gwen Frostic from these links, including this photo set (photo above included) from Stephanie Tardy (aka Phantom Limb). I’m hoping the print shop will be up and running soon.
Interlochen Public Radio report
Save Gwen Frostic
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