Kate Moynihan's "Party Birds"

This Saturday, May 21, Village Picture Frame and Art Gallery in Dearborn will present artist Kate Moynihan, her “Party Birds” and other paintings between noon and 5 p.m.

Art Gallery owner Thomas Clark says patrons on Saturday can enter their name to win a framed Tulip Burst print by being present at 4 p.m. for the drawing. He also will have free refreshments. Clark’s gallery is located in the West Village Commons on Michigan Avenue, between Military and Howards streets.

Growing older without regrets is the motto artist Moynihan has followed for two decades by leaving a secure job as a registered nurse and plunging into the business world as a painter. “I didn’t want my career to pass and always wonder ‘what if.’” Twenty years later Moynihan is not only doing what she loves but is successful, as well.

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Here is an event worth attending on May 21 and it all goes to a good cause.

The Friends of the Dearborn Symphony (formerly WADOS) will sponsor their 30th annual home tour this year on May 21. The tour this year is unique because it focuses not only on the homes in the neighborhood, but also on who owned them.

“I was excited about it because this year’s home tour focuses on the Riverbend neighborhood,” Carla O’Neill, co-chair of the tour told the Dearborn Press & Guide, “and three homes have ties to the Henry Ford Family.”

Several of the homes in the historic Riverbend neighborhood were owned by the automotive tycoon’s family and company executives, and Ford lent himself to much of their design and architecture.

Because the classic Henry Ford Estate on Evergreen Road is closed for renovations, FODS took the opportunity to show people other examples of Ford homes in the area. One such home was built for Henry Ford’s chief chemist, Russell Hudson Carroll. According to another co-chair of the tour, Gretchen Ackermann, the Carroll home has several key features, including a front door commissioned by Ford himself, made exclusively of Poplar found along the Rouge River, and a chandelier recovered from the Dodge Main Plant.

Henry Ford’s Chief Engineer Lawrence Sheldrick, who helped develop the 1927 Model-A owned a 4000 square-foot home in this neighborhood, which has been restored using original materials.

One other home, owned by Ford’s sister, was recently renovated by award-winning interior designer Dan Davis, who will be speaking to guests before the tour about his work.

The Home Tour is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and tickets can be purchased at several local outlets, including Cherry Hill Pharmacy, 23100 Cherry Hill, or online at www.dearbornsymphony.org/HomeTourTickets. Prices are $13 for pre-sale, or $15 at the door. Davis’ seminar will start at 9:30, and though guests can attend for $10, seating is limited.

We dedicate all of our efforts here around discussing Dearborn but occasionally we run across a story about our neighbor city Detroit that is worth mentioning. This particular story is from The New York Times with the headline “36 Hours in Detroit.” It is a travel piece that just might provide some ideas for Dearbornites looking for something easy to do on a spring weekend that only requires a drive across our city border.

The story begins below:

“DESPITE recent news stories of a population exodus from Detroit, there are many reasons to make a pilgrimage to this struggling city right now — and not just because Eminem’s slick Super Bowl commercial showcased the inner strength of the Motor City.

No video can portray the passion one finds on the streets of Detroit these days, where everyone from the doorman to the D.J. will tell you they believe in this city’s future.

While certain areas are indeed eerily empty, other neighborhoods — including midtown, downtown and Corktown — are bustling with new businesses that range from creperies and barbecue joints catering to the young artists and entrepreneurs migrating to Motown, to a just-opened hostel that invites tourists to explore Detroit with the aid of local volunteer guides.

In the historic Brush Park district, architecture buffs will find some lovely refurbished houses, and along Woodward Avenue, restored film palaces are a wonderful reminder that this city’s storied past includes not just automobiles, but also the entertainment industry. No urban enthusiast will want to miss the recovery that Detroit is now attempting.”

For the full story in the New York Times, click HERE.

Hundreds of Dearborn students from kindergarten through high school will share their artistic talents at the first ever Dearborn Youth in Arts Festival, sponsored by the Dearborn Community Fund, on May 11 at 7:30 p.m.

The public is invited to attend this free program at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave., in Dearborn to watch hundreds of talented Dearborn students perform, display and demonstrate their arts.

“We called this the Youth in Arts Festival—not just a concert—because of the variety and high spirited energy of the program,” explained EmmaJean Woodyard, executive director of the Dearborn Community Fund (DCF). “It’s really exciting for everyone involved because it’s the first time that all of the schools in Dearborn have pooled all of their arts initiatives together at one time, in one place, to demonstrate how many of our young people are involved in the arts.”

Visual Arts

The Youth in Arts Festival includes the all school exhibit in the Padzieski Art Gallery featuring the artwork of K-12 students.

Fifth grade students will demonstrate the ancient art of kumihimo, a decorative form of Japanese braiding. Their work will be for sale with all proceeds donated to the Red Cross to aid Japanese earthquake victims.

In addition, high school students from the Pockets of Perception (POP) design team will be on hand with designs of their project which culminates later this year with the installation of two outdoor sculptures, one in west Dearborn and one in east Dearborn.

Choral

Choral performances will highlight the voices of students in the Elementary Honors Choir directed by Jim Walters, the Secondary Honors Choir directed by Jennifer Pegouske, and the Edsel Ford Choir, directed by Robert Doyle.

Dramatic Arts

Edsel Ford High School Musical Theater students will add a dramatic element to the program under the direction of Robert Doyle.

Instrumental Arts

Representing the power and passion of instrumental arts, performances include the Fordson Jazz Band conducted by Scott Guthre, Dearborn High School 10th Grade Concert Band conducted by Jeff Oshnock, and the Maples Music Ensemble conducted by Catherine Prowse. The Dearborn Youth Symphony Flute Choir directed by Donna Olkowski will perform in the theater lobby as guests arrive.

Special guests for the evening will highlight Dearborn schools graduates, all of whom have gone on to pursue careers in the arts. The guest list includes: pianist John Boonenberg; comments from Mike Mosallam, director of the Film Initiative for Wayne County; and, conducting the program’s closing number,

G. Kevin Dewey, director of choirs, Henry Ford community College.

The Youth in Arts Festival is sponsored by the Dearborn Community Fund (DCF), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission to support cultural and recreational programs in Dearborn.

Honorary chairs for the event are Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr.; Karen Nigosian, chair, DCF; and Brian Whiston, superintendent, Dearborn Public Schools.

The Youth in Arts Festival Honorary Organization Committee includes: AAUW Dearborn Branch, Artist Society of Dearborn, the Dearborn Public Schools, and the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra.

For more information about the Youth in Arts Festival, other projects sponsored by the DCF, or how to contribute to the Fund, call 313-943-5478.

The East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority’s Artspace Artist Market Survey deadline has been extended until Feb.1

So if you know of any artist or arts organization, please send them a note and ask them to fill out the survey.

The East Dearborn Development Authority (EDDDA), in partnership with the City of Dearborn, continues exploring a new and creative approach to a potential economic development project with Artspace, the nation’s leading nonprofit real estate developer for the arts.

The Artspace mission is to create, foster and preserve affordable space that serves the needs of artists and arts organizations of all disciplines. These activities contribute to the continued growth of the arts community thus enhancing the cultural and economic vitality of the surrounding community. This results in these nationwide projects being community driven.

So how do you take the survey? Go to www.ArtSpaceDearborn.org (which will be live through February 1, 2011 – it only takes 10 minutes to complete, you do NOT have to be a Dearborn resident and also be sure to click to “Submit” button at the end to ensure it is processed.)

All of our lives are touched by art; look around and see the greatness it fills in our lives. Dearborn has a deep rooted and well established arts and cultural community with many existing cultural resources.

The arts and cultural industry is one of growth and has a direct economic impact on the community. Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations support more jobs then other fields, such as accountants, lawyers, public safety officers or teachers. The arts and culture industry attracts audiences, increases tourism, spurs business development and generates revenue.

With its distinct and vibrant marketplace of people, food and cultures as well as the $70 million mixed use development completed at Michigan and Schaefer, East Downtown Dearborn is well positioned to support an innovative and creative project such as the proposed Artspace.

So if you’re an artist (or you know an artist) working in any discipline (graphic design, sculpting, dance, music, writing, fashion design, painting, theater, crafts, etc), you need to participate in this survey. The results will help Artspace developers understand the living, studio and business space preferences for the creative community in metro Detroit, and demonstrate to funders how important new space is to artists and organizations in the region.

And if you’re not an artist but work with a cultural arts organization or business that serves the creative community (coffee shops, art supply and paint stores, galleries, theater companies, book stores, publishers, design firms, social service organizations, etc), your input is wanted, too.

Please visit the Artspace website at www.artspace.org to learn more about the organization and its success in other communities.

We have written here a few times about Artspace and the work the East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority (EDDDA) is doing with this organization to perhaps bring affordable living and work space for artists to Dearborn.

Well, we all can help in this project by spreading the word to anyone within a 50 mile radius of Dearborn. The bottom line is if this project even has a remote chance of taking place in our city, we need people to take the survey at www.artspacedearborn.org  The survey can be taken from now through Jan. 4, 2011 – and it only takes 10 minutes to complete.

Below is from the EDDDA, requesting our help:

At the request and on behalf of the EDDDA, who has partnered with Artspace projects (a national nonprofit developer) to study the space needs of the creative community in Dearborn and the surrounding Detroit Metro area, we’re reaching out to YOU to assist in the development of affordable new spaces where artists may live, work, and pursue their art as well as space where organizations and business can exhibit, perform, rehearse, teach, create, and conduct business in Dearborn .

If you’re an artist (or you know an artist) working in any discipline (graphic design, sculpting, dance, music, writing, fashion design, painting, theater, crafts, etc), you need to participate in this survey. The results will help Artspace developers understand the living, studio and business space preferences for the creative community in metro Detroit , and demonstrate to funders how important new space is to artists and organizations in the region.

And if you’re not an artist but work with a cultural arts organization or business that serves the creative community (coffee shops, art supply and paint stores, galleries, theater companies, book stores, publishers, design firms, social service organizations, etc), your two cents are wanted too!

So how do you take the survey? Go to www.ArtSpaceDearborn.org between now and Jan. 4, 2011

Please be sure to pass this email along and tell your friends and colleagues about these surveys.

The Michigan Depression Glass Society’s 38th annual show and sale will be held November 6 – 7 at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn.

Depression Glass show comes to Dearborn Nov. 6-7.

Show organizers say Depression glass continues to grow in popularity because the vintage glassware can be frequently spotted on the counter and table tops of Rachel Ray, Martha Stewart, Sandra Lee and Alton Brown as they plate their delicious dishes.

While celebrity chefs have assistants scour flea markets and antique stores for these items, show organizers say nothing compares to the vast array of sparkling glassware that can be found at the Michigan Depression Glass Society (MDGS) Annual Show & Sale.

“We’ve been seeing a significant increase in 20- and 30-year-old collectors attending our annual glass show looking for the fun and funky retro glassware of the 1950s to 1960s like martini shakers, wine glasses, ice buckets and other serving pieces for hosting parties at home,” said MDGS President Barb Cruz. “We attribute much of this new found interest to television cooking programs, combined with the eco-friendly trend to go green with glassware.”

The show features nearly two-dozen glass dealers from across the country and authors of books on depression and era glassware.

“It’s hard to describe what can be found in the aisles and aisles of glassware at this event,” Cruz added. “This show is a fun weekend activity to attend with friends and to search for great finds to use at your next dinner gathering, cocktail party or cooking marathon; because in the end, it is all in the presentation.”

Hours for the Nov. 6 and 7 show are Saturday from 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. Admission to the event is a $5 donation; parking is free. For safety reasons, strollers are not permitted.

For more information, click HERE.

A plan to create affordable space for artists, arts organizations and nonprofits in East Dearborn inched another step forward on Wednesday.

The East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority (EDDDA), in partnership with the City of Dearborn, tells us that an artist market survey will go out to artists in a 50 mile radius of Dearborn. This survey will be conducted by Artspace, the nation’s leading nonprofit real estate developer for the arts. The EDDDA is working with Artspace to explore a new and creative way to a potential economic development project in East Dearborn.

“The reason they (Artspace) are contacting artists outside of Dearborn is to more fully understand how many artists are interested in space and if they would move to Dearborn if affordable space were accessible here,” said Melissa Kania of the EDDDA. “The survey will provide Artspace with statistical information including such things as: artist housing needs, affordability ranges, rental vs. ownership preferences, artist studio-only needs, location preferences, design requirements based on household sizes and arts disciplines, and arts organization space needs.”

This is where many of us can help this project. Dearborn and Artspace need our help in collecting the names and email addresses of as many artists as possible in and outside of Dearborn (50 mile radius) to actually take the survey. Artspace will be kicking off this survey phase of the study with a public meeting Nov. 9 in the Council Chambers at Dearborn City Hall. The short survey launches Nov. 9 and runs through January 14, 2011.

Some of you may recall that Artspace was in Dearborn June 22 and 23, 2010 to begin the process of building community support for the creation of affordable space for artists, entrepreneurs and arts organizations.

They explored five areas of consideration: project concept, artist market need, site suitability, potential to fund and sustain a project and local leadership. A public meeting was held to determine community support and inform the public of Artspace’s work. The Prefeasibility Visit is the first step in the process that can lead to an Artspace project.

Interested artists can visit: www.artspacedearborn.org to register for the survey.

Taste of Dearborn East kicks off today and runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are just $25 in advance or $30 today at the door, a good price and great way to sample food from 16 restaurants throughout East Downtown Dearborn, along Warren Avenue, Schaefer Road, Dix Avenue and in the Fairlane Town Center.

Melissa Kania of the East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority (EDDDA) dropped us a note this week asking that we help get the word out and remind people of today’s event.

This inaugural annual Taste East event is put on by the EDDDA and the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce.

“We are thrilled to be a part of this successful event that will showcase the diverse variety of flavors that our local restaurants have to offer,” Kania said.

Here is what you need to do. Register online www.tasteofdearborn.com or download the online registration form and fax to 313-584-9818. You can also purchase a ticket at the door. Tickets for groups of 10 or more are $20. Participants must be at least 21 to participate and will receive a wristband during the check-in process at 5:30 at the EDDDA office, 13750 Michigan Avenue, starting at 5:30 p.m.

The wristband is to be worn by all “tasters” so restaurant workers will be able to distinguish them from regular patrons. Tasters sample free appetizers, purchase drink specials if they choose, then catch one of the passenger vans available for transportation to the next participating restaurant of their choice. Transportation is available to participating restaurants until 10 p.m.

For more information, you can contact Peggy Richard at 313-584-6100 or Melissa Kania of the EDDDA at 313-943-3141.

Participating restaurants include:

1. Adonis Restaurant
2. Alcamo’s Italian Market
3. Amani’s
4. Avenue Bar & Grill
5. Bravo! Cucina Italiana
6. Country Restaurant
7. Fuddruckers at Fairlane
8. Fuego Mexican Grill
9. Habib’s Cuisine
10. Joe’s Top Dog
11. PF Chang’s China Bistro
12. Prestige Café
13. Roma Bakery (at check-in)
14. Roman Village Cucina Italiana
15. Schmoocheese Cheesecakes (at check-in)
16. Shelby’s On Warren

If you are traveling west on Michigan Avenue coming from Miller Road you might have noticed a large painting on the wall of Green Brain Comics, 13210 Michigan Ave.

Katie Merritt (left) and husband Dan, co-owners of Green Brain Comics, and Michelle Hauske of the Detroit Institute of Arts, stand in front of the 'Dragon of Marduk.'

For those wondering, Green Brain Comics is one of 40 local businesses that have been selected to display a Detroit Institute of Arts digital reproduction as part of the DIA’s community outreach program called Inside/Out.

The Inside/Out program is part of the institute’s 125 anniversary. The life-sized, waterproof, vinyl reproductions will be installed at 40 locations throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties.  Green Brain owner Dan Merritt says a big thanks goes out to the DIA, Dearborn City Hall and the East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority for helping make this happen.

Once all of the paintings are up, the DIA is planning to have an interactive map on its website that will point people to all of the different sites. The DIA also has a flickr site so people can post pictures of DIA art sightings.

The artwork adorning Green Brain is actually a detail from the much larger “Ishtar Gate” called the “Dragon of Marduk.”

For a detailed image, click HERE.