artsy Interviews Dolly Osborne and Toni Hansen

Dichroic glass is a very popular and beautiful jewelry medium and Artists Market artists Dolly Osborne and Toni Hansen team up to make some of the best. In the April 9, 2009 issue of The Graphic they talk about how they got started working together and the process they use for creating this colorful style of glass jewelry.

As usual, the artsy column, written this week by Lindsey Manthei, helps readers get to know this local artist duo and brings us pictures of their smiling faces and their work.

So be sure to pick up the Graphic and stop in the Artists Market to see some of Dolly and Toni's fused glass masterpieces (and maybe pick one up for yourself or for a gift.)

Top 10 Reasons to Visit Petoskey

Let's face it. Unless you happen to live in Pellston, Petoskey, Michigan is pretty far away. A significant part of the year it is cold and snowy. Petoskey does not have any major airports, skyscrapers, palm trees, cruise ship ports, major league sports teams, zoos or roller coasters. [And, despite the efforts of Artists Market photographer Kris Busk, no penguins!] So why would anyone ever come here? Yet, despite all this, zillions of tourists seem to show up here every year. To help resolve this apparent paradox, I have come up with a list, my

TOP TEN REASONS TO VISIT PETOSKEY.

10. To get away from all of those places that do have "major airports, skyscrapers, palm trees, cruise ship ports, major league sports teams, zoos or roller coasters."

9. To ride bicycles up and down the rolling hills or, if you prefer, along the miles of gorgeous bicycle paths that circle the bay and wander through the woods.

8. To breath ( with deep, cleansing breaths if you wish) the clean Northern Michigan air, far away from mills, factories and other sources of pollution.

7. Fudge.

6. To leisurely shop in the unique, locally owned, friendly stores of Downtown Petoskey's Gaslight District including [brief commercial brag] the Northern Michigan Artists Market.

5. To get away from the bright city lights and actually see a sky full of stars.

4. To look at, walk along, swim in, sit on the beach along and generally enjoy the heck out of Little Traverse Bay, that delightful piece of water that makes Petoskey a harbor town on Lake Michigan.

3. Petoskey stones -- finding, rinsing, polishing and admiring the charming fossils that uniquely inhabit the Lake Michigan shoreline of the Northwest corner of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. {Like Artists Market artist Steve Webster did when he created this petoskey stone Lower Peninsula.]

2. Skiing on the snowy slopes in the Winter and boating (preferably sailing) on the lakes in the summer.

And . . .

THE NUMBER ONE REASON TO VISIT PETOSKEY
Unquestionably and without a doubt, watching, photographing, painting, waiting for the mythical green flash just before, kissing on the dock or the beach during and perfectly ending another beautiful day in Northern Michigan enjoying the million dollar sunsets over Little Traverse Bay. [As represented in this painting by Artist Market artist Rick Kolb.]

Anyone wishing to challenge any of these items or add ones of their own, just click on the comment link at the end of this post.

Update For Wayward Friends of Northern Michigan

Last Saturday I was at a luncheon in Ann Arbor where I got to talk to a couple of local guys from Petoskey and Harbor Springs who are now freshmen at the University of Michigan. What did they want to know about the goings on in their home town? One of them asked me if that big hole in the ground is still there. Some of you who visit us from time to time but live elsewhere might like to know the answer too, as well as the status of one of our other famous local traumas (yes we do have them even here in God's Country) so, as a public service, here is the update.



THE HOLE IN THE GROUND is of course the site of the Petoskey Pointe redevelopment project. This has been a controversial project since it was approved back in 2004. The idea was to take a scruffy piece of land at the entrance to Petoskey's downtown and turn it into a several story complex of stores, condos, a hotel and some much needed underground parking. Many people opposed the project for a variety of reasons including claims that it was too big, blocked views of the bay, was out of character with the rest of Downtown, etc. The City Council finally approved the project and a city-wide referendum to block it was defeated. Existing buildings were torn down and a large hole was dug. Since then, the developer has been unable to obtain financing and the hole is still there with a big ugly fence around the entire block. Ironically, with the old buildings down, there is now a great view of the bay but there is still that hole. That live webcam shot of the Petoskey Pointe hole up at the top of this paragraph is courtesy of our friends at Gaslight Media. It is live but, other than the cars passing by, don't expect it to change much any time soon.

After giving the developer several extensions, in early March the City sent them a notice that they were in default. The City is now waiting for a response. So, the short answer is: Yes the hole is still there.

THE HOLE IN THE WALL. The other famous hole in town is a large gap in the breakwall that protects the town harbor. A couple of springs ago during a major storm a section of the concrete gave way. The gap lasted for a while and became one of the most photographed and painted sites in Petoskey (as seen in this pastel by Artist Market artist Jan Vandenbrink). The breakwall is the responsibility of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. They gave the breakwall a temporary patch last year so the big gap is no longer there. The current word is that the Corp of Engineers will begin Phase One of reconstruction this spring as soon as weather and ice conditions allow. The 300-foot outer section of the wall from the lighthouse in to the end of the damaged portion will be replaced first. Construction is expected to last the rest of the year. Many local youth are concerned that construction will restrict the popular but illegal practice of jumping off the wall into the bay. Somehow, I have faith that exuberance and hormones will overcome whatever obstacles are created by the Corp and its work and this local ritual of summer will somehow survive. (Although we of course do not OFFICIALLY condone such illegal and irresponsible behavior.)

I know that many of you who do not live here for the whole year still feel a deep and reverend connection to Northern Michigan. You are all a part of the Northern Michigan community as far as I am concerned. In this space we try to do our part to keep you informed of all the really important and culturally significant happenings. Please feel free to comment on this post by clicking the COMMENT link at the end or email me any questions you may have about whatever stuff from up here you are wondering about during the part of the year when you are not fortunate enough to be in Northern Michigan. Then check back here and I will fill you in.

Downtown Petoskey Announces Facade Improvement Plan

We have one of Michigan's best small town downtowns in Petoskey and we want to keep it that way. Downtown Petoskey is filled with friendly stores run by local merchants delivering a variety of interesting, quality products.

Because we are an old (I suppose we prefer to say "historic") downtown some of our storefronts need remodeling or rebuilding. We want to preserve our charm and character without placing complicated restrictions on our property owners that make it harder for them to maintain their buildings. To help solve these problems, The Downtown Management Board and its Downtown Design Committee have worked hard to develop and adopt design guidelines for building facades.

To encourage compliance with these guidelines and to provide financial support to help local property owners and renters improve their buildings, Downtown Petoskey will provide facade improvement grants to support projects that comply with the facade guidelines.

If all this sounds like a great idea, it is! If it all sounds a bit complicated, it is that too so The Downtown Management Board and the Downtown Design Committee
have just announced an informational meeting to introduce the program and help local businesses and property owners find out how they can receive funds for approved renovations to the exterior of their buildings.

The meeting will be held in the Resort Room at Stafford’s Perry Hotel at 5:30 pm on Thursday, April 9, 2009. Building owners and building tenants are invited to attend and should R.S.V.P. prior to April 7, 2009, by calling Downtown Director Becky Goodman at 347-4150 or becky@petoskey.com.

This program grew out of the 2007 Cool Cities Blueprint for Michigan Downtowns study of Downtown Petoskey done by the nationally renowned firm of HyettPalma.

We at the Northern Michigan Artists Market salute these efforts because we love Downtown Petoskey. We urge all who are even remotely interested in making any changes to the facades of their Downtown Petoskey storefronts to attend and find out what they have to do to qualify for a facade improvement grant. And all the rest of you who love downtown Petoskey and enjoy shopping here, please join us in applauding and supporting this effort in any way you can.

By the way, here is a photo by Artist Market artist Bruce Love of our charming Downtown Petoskey facade. We love our facade and we think we have the greatest windows of any storefront in Downtown Petoskey but, who knows?

Help Yourself and Help the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra

That's right. Help yourself. Dig in. Chow down. Looking for a great place to grab a meal this summer? Try the homes of the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra's Board of Trustees. You get a meal and some first class entertainment and the opportunity to help support the Orchestra.

The Musical Feast, tour started this week at Alice and Robert Pattengale's house. On the menu was a chili dinner, a preview of the orchestra's plans served up by Conducter Matthew Hazelwood and a tasty performance of a selection from Fantastics by orchestra musicians and alto soloist Jamie Platte. Guests also savored unique hand-made collage lapel pins with a musical motif delicately prepared by Northern Michigan Artists Market co-owner and head chef Vivi Woodcock.

While you missed this stop on the gastronomic tour, future helpings of the Musical Feast will continue through the spring and summer. Just call the GLCO at 231-487-0010 or click here for more information.

Exhibition of Northern Michigan Photographer James Galbraith's Irish Collection at National Library of Ireland

James Galbraith was a close friend of the Northern Michigan Artists Market. He was an amazing photographer. We have displayed and sold his photographs. His wife Susan was a part owner of the Market and still comes by regularly to swap stories and buy Northern Michigan art.

Susie stopped by today and told us about her recent trip to Ireland. The National Library of Ireland recently acquired a large collection of Jim's photographs taken taken during his visits to Ireland in 1970, 1978 and 1997. Susie was there to attend the opening of the library's exhibition, D. James Galbraith's Ireland 1970-1977.

The exhibition displays a selection of these photographs that capture Irish daily life in rural areas and small towns and villages in Cork, Kerry and Clare. The images reveal the flavor of life in the pubs, on the streets and in the traditional Irish music scene.

This collection of photographs may be Irish but Northern Michigan claims Jim as one of its artistic treasures. He was born in 1930. He worked as a photographer for the U.S. Air force and then several Michigan newspapers. He is most famous for his portraits (like the obviously American one on the right) that are almost biographical in the insights they reveal about the character of his subjects, ordinary and famous.

Kudos to Susie. I know you were moved by a sense of a renewed partnership with Jim as you worked hard to help the National Library of Ireland preserve these wonderful photographs and stage this exhibition. I am warmed by the chance to revisit my memories of a great man and an remarkable Northern Michigan artist.

The exhibition is in Dublin and runs through June 2, 2009, so there is still time to make your plans and go see it.

A Michigan Memory: George Kell Dies at 86

I don't remember George Kell, the Detroit Tiger third baseman. He played in Detroit from 1946 to 1952. I was born in Detroit in 1950. I don't remember George Kell of the Boston Red Sox where he played with Ted Williams. But I do remember well George Kell, the Detroit Tiger radio and television broadcaster.

When I was nine years old and growing up in suburban Detroit George Kell teamed up with another Detroit sports broadcasting legend of my youth, Van Patrick, on TV and radio for the Tigers. I remember him better from my earlier teen years when he worked with legendary Tiger broadcaster Ernie Harwell and then later when as an adult I listened to him work with Tiger legend Al Kaline.

These memories do not belong to me alone. I share them with generations of fans from all over Michigan. We all miss you.

George Kell died in his sleep today at his home in Swifton, Arkansas. He was 86.