March is National Reading Month so it’s an excellent time to highlight works from local authors that have earned the distinction of a 2023 Michigan Notable Book. Every year the Library of Michigan selects up to twenty of the most notable books. Each is either about, or set in, Michigan, or written by a Michigan author. Selections
Anyone who has ever visited the Porcupine Mountains has likely been a little inspired. Some of us feel a desire to travel more. Others wish to slow life down. One or two may even reflect upon their place in the world. Then there are those with an artistic passion, for whom a visit sparks immense productivity. Are
A striking new piece of art now adorns Detroit’s cityscape. It is the result of an extensive search that started when the convention building was called TCF Center, and ended after it became Huntington Place. The outdoor sculpture highlights the main circle drive near the entrance. Called Floating Citadel, it is the inspiration of local artist Scott
Any time is a fun time to visit Glass Academy in Dearborn, but this July may be one of the best times ever. Guests can try their lungs at glassblowing, support a local community organization, and help break a Guiness World Record, all at the same time. The project is aptly-named Breath of Michigan, and it runs
The Buy Michigan Now Festival is returning to Downtown Northville Aug 5-7, 2022. In keeping with tradition, the event offers Michigan-based authors an opportunity to sign and sell books. Traditionally, over the course of the weekend, 25-30,000 people attend this upbeat celebration of Buy Michigan Week. BMNFest Writers selected to participate will be provided with a tent,
Each year, the Michigan Notable Book (MNB) list features 20 books. Each is about, or set in, Michigan, or written by a Michigan author. They are published during the previous calendar year. Selections include a variety of genres, both fiction and nonfiction . They appeal to many audiences and explore topics and issues close to the hearts
Kresge Arts in Detroit will award 20 fellowships and 10 Gilda Awards to artists of all career stages living and working in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Kresge Artist Fellowships are $25,000 no strings attached awards, plus professional development support and the creation of a short film highlighting the artist’s work. Fellowships and Gilda Awards will be
There’s often a debate over whether or not one person can really make a difference. That question has been solved with a resounding yes when it comes to a roadside attraction near Marquette. With just a simple idea, and a fair amount of land, Tom Lakenen has been able to create lifelong memories for passing travelers, as
Since 2008, Kresge Arts in Detroit has awarded more than $6.7 million through 13 Kresge Eminent Artist Awards, 238 Kresge Artist fellowships, and 32 Gilda Awards. Last year, in recognition of the impact of COVID-19 to the arts community, Kresge expanded funding to support two additional Kresge Artist Fellows. That makes a total of 20 annual fellowships,
The TCF Center in Detroit, formerly known as Cobo Hall, is seeking a new addition to its impressive art collection. The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority Art Foundation, otherwise known as Art at TCF Center, has announced a call to artists for a large-scale, exterior sculpture. This aesthetic addition to the city’s landscape will reside in the middle of
Our state has long been a hotbed for cultivating artistic talent. In 2019, the fruits of much labor were sweet for these ten artists, whose careers were nurtured locally. Gloria House To start out the year, poet, activist and educator Dr. Gloria House became the 11th Detroit artist to receive the annual Kresge Eminent Artist award. A
When it comes to art and style, Michigan has been home to many revolutionary ideas and figures, though precious few have had the lasting impact on their craft as interior designer Ruth Adler Schnee. Before she created a body of textile patterns in the 1940s and 1950s that helped shape the look and feel of mid-century modernism,
If you've ever driven past an elegant home and wondered how it is decorated inside, you're in for a treat. There's an exciting new exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). Uniquely, it gives a glimpse into the homes of some prominent locals. Detroit Collects: Selections of African American Art from Private Collections, runs until March
Do you have a short story you’ve been dying to share with the world, but aren’t sure how to get it out there? Perhaps you long to be the next O’Henry, or have a child who aspires to be an author. If any of those scenarios sound familiar, then the Write Michigan Short Story Contest may have
The arts community in Michigan is vibrant and diverse, representing multiple genres. Every day there are talented Michiganders in recording studios. They are also behind lenses and at rehearsals. Some sit across from canvases, and others, in front of laptops in coffee shops. They hone their skills and create so that the world will be nourished through
Calling all young artists, designers, techies, entrepreneurs, and creatives. Detroit is the place to be this fall. Forbes, the financial news and investment publisher, announced Tuesday that it is bringing its flagship Under 30 Summit to Detroit for the next three years. The first conference is set to convene in the city October 27-30. The Announcement The announcement was
As an adult it seems like every New Year’s Day I make a plan to read more. Then life gets in the way. Fortunately, I seem to get a jumpstart when March rolls around because it’s National Reading Month. Inevitably new books cross my radar screen, especially those written by Michigan authors. Thus. I sit back with
it was hard to miss Michigan’s influence on the music industry at the 61st Grammy Awards. There was a tribute to late, great Aretha Franklin, and a Motown retrospective. Plus, an evening highlight was the an anticipatory celebration of Diana Ross’ 75th birthday. However, you might have missed one of the state’s latest musical triumphs. It wasn’t
Artists and patrons gathered in the Jack White Theater at Detroit's Masonic Temple yesterday to celebrate those talented souls who have been honored by the Kresge Foundation as Eminent Artists over the past ten years. There are few honors more prestigious among the city's creative community than being recognized by the Kresge Art in Detroit program. Kresge
It is common at this time of year for families to visit pumpkin patches and farmers markets all over the state. They search for that special orange squash that is just the right size to become one of their jack-o-lanterns. Perhaps your family partakes in that tradition. But have you ever been through a patch of glass
Long known as a palate-pleaser, Detroit’s Eastern Market is now pleasing to palettes of a much different kind. Over the past four years, an astounding visual transformation has been taking place in the historic district. It is already worth a visit, as one of the oldest and largest year-round markets in the country. Now, it is also
Calling all female artists who have a passion for history and equal rights. The Michigan Women's Hall of Fame is looking for a talented local woman to create a new medallion. Eventually, the new design will be used to commemorate future inductees. In fact, the hall of fame medallion design that is selected will be on a
The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center (BBAC), a nonprofit community art center serving the Detroit region, is once again hosting the Michigan Fine Arts Competition(MFAC). It has done so annually since 1982, when the Detroit Institute of Arts turned the statewide competition over to the BBAC. Every year, more than 500 artists from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin enter the
It’s impossible, or at the very least, unwise, to imagine growth in any industry these days without factoring in the role of technology. Fashion is certainly no exception. In fact, it's becoming critical. Whether it's reaching social media influencers, or customers, tech plays a role. Consumers want discounts and purchasing options at their fingertips at all times.
Aside from the art itself and of course the size of the monetary awards, arguably the most astounding aspect of ArtPrize in Grand Rapids is the number and variety of venues that participate. They can range from the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) to a police station, with a variety of restaurants, shops, offices, churches and more
