2018 SJHS Homecoming Court named
Front Row L-R: Freshmen Representative Cami Hufnagel, Sophomore Representative Morgan Eiseler, Junior Representative Lexi Martens, Senior Court Ann Marie Falor, Brantae Luttig, Jaden Hafner, Jordyn Jones, and Mikaila Kaczander.
Back Row L-R: Freshmen Representative Braylon Thelen, Sophomore Representative Edwin Aparicio, Junior Representative Mitch Gifford, Senior Court Kyler McNamara, Gabe McClain, Alexander Pervine, Reece Armbrustmacher, and Bobby Goerge.
Downtown stores decorated and ready for Homecoming
an album by Maralyn Fink
On Monday afternoon I went down to Clinton Avenue to watch the painting of the windows as part of the Homecoming Festivities.
Very nice talent from the students who did the paintings.
Community Fund Grants go toward Community Art projects
The new St. Johns Police Department on south US-27 and the north US-27 underpass on the Fred Meijer CIS Trail will be sporting new artwork in the near future, thanks, in part, to grants approved by the St. Johns Area Community Fund.
Signage for the new Police station across from the Baptist church will include a badge created by Ivan Iler of Hammer in Hand Custom Cycles of St. Johns. With our $500 grant, and other funding, the new badge will be a big jump from the simple lettering that would otherwise be used to identify the station. It will be clearly visible from US-27 as visitors and residents alike enter town from the south.
A “Legendary Artists Passage” mural project inside the rail to trail US-27 underpass was awarded $2,000, about half of the remaining unfunded project cost. Clinton County Arts Council is undertaking the project with Muralist, Tamara Brown of Tea Time Art, LLC. She will paint the north side of the underpass.
Contact St. Johns Area Community Fund at stjohnsareacommunityfund@gmail.com for information on requesting grants or visit them at sjacf.org.
Trail Underpass Mural Project announced
The Clinton County Arts Council (CCAC) is so excited to announce the “Legendary Artists Passage” community mural project. This mural project will take place under Business 27 in St. Johns along the Fred Meijer CIS Trail.
The mural project is structured to be educational while also aiming to promote local talent and engage the community by turning empty walls into huge public canvases and the results will have a lasting effect on our local neighborhood.
The CCAC has contracted with muralist, Tamara Brown (Tea) of Tea Time Art, LLC., who will paint the north side of the underpass. Eight groups and/or organizations will need to register by November 30, 2018 to paint 8’x10’ sections on the south side.
Each group, such as 4H groups, churches and schools, will select a historical artist from a list such as Michelangelo, Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh. As a team; they will research the artist and sketch a design that represents that artist’s timeline in history and/or style of work. The groups will work closely with Tea to scale their design. They will have the opportunity to fundraise the cost of $400 each between now and April 2019.
Mural installation will take place between May – July, after prep work is completed by volunteers.
It will be legendary not only because of the artists style that is portrayed within the passage but because they will have gained knowledge, creativity and respect for art. We believe this project will build a stronger sense of community. The mural will make the trail welcoming and walkable, a place many will seek out and enjoy.
The CCAC also feels it is important to lift our youth’s creativity and teach them to take pride in their artistic talents. This project will teach the young people to collaborate and work together during the various steps required to paint and design a mural.
Tea Brown is a local artist from Lansing, best known for her paintings and murals. She was the first muralist chosen for Lansing’s ArtPath 2018, where she created an inspiring mural entitled “Break Free” located under the Shiawassee Street bridge. This mural won her People’s Choice Award. She participated in Artprize 2017 with a bright, colorful, 1200 sq. ft. mural in Grand Rapids entitled “Be the Light”. She also has a current sculpture on display at Artprize 2018 titled “Water of Life”.
If your group or organization is interested in participating in this mural project, please call the Clinton County Arts Council at 989/224-2429.
CCAC is a non-profit organization that will graciously receive some funding from the Michigan Council of Arts and Culture Affairs and the St. Johns Area Community Fund in support of this project.
Historical Society’s postcard history back
A history of Clinton County told through postcards is back in print for a limited time. The book includes 116 pages of postcards, some in color, from throughout the county with brief historical descriptions.
Copies are available for $20 at the Paine-Gillam-Scott Museum, the Art Council in St. Johns and the CCHS Archives at the Valley Farms Community Center during normal operating hours.
Copies may also be ordered by mail for $20 plus $3.50 postage from: Clinton County Historical Society, Box 174, St. Johns, Michigan 48879.
Marching Redwings earn straight firsts again
Congratulations to our St. Johns High School Redwing Marching Band on receiving the highest ratings at this week’s band competition in Owosso. The streak continues.