Dearborn may not have the kind of retail we’d like to see (at least not yet) but there is a good collection of restaurants.

And now some of those establishments will be featured on canvas as of a project called “Dearborn Paints – Good Food!”

Dearborn artist Janet Kondziela recently painted food at Top Dog Coney Island, 13342 Michigan.

Over the next 12 months, Dearborn artist Janet Kondziela will be bringing together art, commerce, marketing and a bit of fun. Some of you may have already bumped into Kondziela, who has been on location at several Dearborn establishments with her easel and paints, creating an original painting of each business’s signature product.

An exhibition of all the finished work is scheduled for September 2011 at the Padzieski Art Gallery in the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. The exhibit will include all the finished pieces plus additional original work by Dearborn artists.

Aided by a grant from the Dearborn Community Fund and some additional support from the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce, Kondziela will be on site at more than 25 businesses. The project kicked off in May at Westborn Fruit & Flower Market. Other locations have included: Alcamo’s, 4423 Schaefer; O’Kelley’s Knights of Columbus Hall, 23663 Park; Dearborn Farmer’s Market, behind Bryant Library, Top Dog Coney Island, 13342 Michigan; Jim’s Place, 13245 Michigan and Leon’s Family Dining, 23830 Michigan.

Kondziela’s dates for August include: August 10 (10:30 a.m.), LaPita, 22681 Newman; August 13 (11 a.m.), Buddy’s Pizzeria, 222148 Michigan; August 21 (10 a.m.); Westborn Fruit & Flower Market, 21735 Michigan; August 28 (Noon), O’Sushi’s (outdoors), 22431 Michigan (Sept. 4 rain date). New sites are added as they become available. For current updates, visit Kondziela’s  website HERE or  the Dearborn Community Fund at 313-943-5478.