Arts & Culture

U.P. counties get humanities grants

Nicole Walton — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:46:20 +0000

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI-- Four Upper Peninsula nonprofit groups have received grants from the Michigan Humanities Council.

Money is awarded annually to organizations that support cultural, educational and community-based public humanities programs.

$15,000 was approved for the Calumet Theatre Company in Houghton County.

In Chippewa County another $15,000 is slated for the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society; $2,930 is going to Lake Superior State University; and $5,674 is going to the Bayliss Public Library in the Soo.

Tech ice artists pull all-nighter

Kevin Hodur — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:43:11 +0000

Michigan Technological University students sculpted, chipped and ironed their way through Wednesday night to create fantastic ice and snow statues for Tech's annual Winter Carnival.

University creative writer Kevin W. Hodur has the story.

Restoration efforts underway for Marquette statue

Nicole Walton — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 23:59:31 +0000

MARQUETTE, MI (AP)-- A restoration effort is under way for the historic Father Marquette statue in the city of Marquette.

A Detroit-based company that works in sculpture preservation recently spent the day creating molds of the reliefs at the base of the statue. In the 115 years since the statue was dedicated to the city of Marquette, pieces have been broken from the reliefs. Experts will return in the spring to attach replacements to the original reliefs.

Arts grants awarded across the U.P.

Nicole Walton — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:14:26 +0000

MARQUETTE, MI-- Six Upper Peninsula counties are sharing in nearly $5.7 million in grants from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

The money is going to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, educational institutions, and municipalities.

Hermansville man builds guitars--not just for stars

Nicole Walton — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 13:19:11 +0000

HERMANSVILLE, MI-- A Menominee County man who's combined his passion for woodworking and playing guitar has musicians lined up for one of his custom-built guitars.

Jeff Neville established Neville Guitars in 2007. Since then, he and his wife Danielle have transformed logs to sought-after, lacquer-finished guitars in Hermansville. Neville says “everything branched out from there.” Some guitars have been built from wood cut on their property.

Pure Michigan holds photo contest

Nicole Walton — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:03:38 +0000

LANSING, MI (AP)-- The state's Pure Michigan tourism campaign is holding a photo contest that offers a chance to be published in a travel guide.

The Pure Michigan Moments Photo Contest runs through November 9, with people able to vote for their favorite photo on the Pure Michigan Facebook page.

Boat, U.P. site added to list of historic places

Nicole Walton — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:20:53 +0000

LANSING, MI (AP)-- The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bramble and four other Michigan entities have been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Bramble is significant because it's one of the first American vessels to successfully circumnavigate the North American continent through the Northwest Passage. It was decommissioned in 2003 and is moored in Port Huron.

Artists needed at Porkies

Nicole Walton — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:42:53 +0000

ONTONAGON, MI-- Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is now accepting artist-in-residence applications for next year.

The program offers writers, composers, and all visual and performing artists the opportunity to live in the porkies for at least two weeks and express its beauty through their art form. During their residency artists will share their experience with the public through demonstrations or talks, and must donate an art piece representative of their stay.

Baraga statue erected in Grand Rapids

Nicole Walton — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:35:46 +0000

GRAND RAPIDS, MI-- A sculpture of a 19th century bishop known for his work in the Upper Peninsula and West Michigan has been unveiled in Grand Rapids.

The 7 1/2-foot bronze sculpture of Frederic Baraga was revealed Tuesday outside St. Andrew's Cathedral at Piazza Secchia. The Peter F. Secchia Family Foundation commissioned it as part of a series honoring figures in area history.

Marquette fireworks group needs more money

Nicole Walton — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:30:15 +0000

MARQUETTE, MI-- The City of Marquette is lagging behind in its fundraising efforts for Independence Day fireworks.

Officials with the Marquette Area 4^thof July Committee say the pyrotechnics cost about $30,000 and the group is $6,000 to $8,000 behind last year at this time. As a result, the decorated bike rodeo has been cut from this year’s festivities.

Officials say if everyone who watched the fireworks this year gave a dollar toward the effort the committee would be able to cover the cost of the celebration.