The Detroit Institute of Arts in conjunction with the Clarkston Cultural Arts Council had painted this mural on Main Street in Clarkston. The Starkweather Arts Center and the DIA are teaming to bring a similar mural to South Main Street in Romeo. (Photo courtesy Alex Gilford Fine Art and Illustration and the Clarkston Cultural Arts Council)
BY DANIELLE BLESSING
Romeo’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and Starkweather Arts Center are partnering with the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) to create a community art project in Downtown Romeo.
The details of the art project have not been finalized but the involved organizations are leaning towards painting a mural.
Starkweather and the DDA had been thinking of painting a mural downtown prior to the DIA’s involvement.
The organizations were then contacted by the DIA who asked if they were interested in partnering with them to build a community art project in Romeo.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to partner with other cities across Metro Detroit,” said Charles Garling, the Director of Studio Programs at the DIA.
These cities include Clarkston, Sterling Heights, Plymouth, Warren, Clawson and Lake Orion.
“They have experience with this, which is a big plus for us,” said Starkweather Society Treasurer Grace Venet.
Back in 2012, a 0.2 property tax millage was passed to fund the DIA and to allow visitors free admission to the museum.
The DIA plans to use some of these tax dollars to support the development of local art projects so Starkweather and the DDA do not have to search for funding.
Venet explained that the cost to the DDA and Starkweather is minimal.
They only need to provide a few things such as material needed to prepare the surface of the building, if the community should choose the mural.
The cost of painting a mural independently can run between $10,000 and $16,000, so the ability to save on this cost is very beneficial.
The project will be overseen by a lead artist but all local artists are encouraged to help.
The project is expected to begin in July or August and to conclude in the fall.
“For us to be able to use their (the DIA’s) funding, it has to be done by early November,” Venet said.
“We have a great relationship with the Romeo community,” Garling said. “We have partnered with them in the past.”
Romeo has hosted DIA programs such as the DIA’s Inside/Out program and the Romeo Peach Festival.
The DDA and Starkweather have some details to work out before any work can be done such as the location for the project and feedback from the community.
There are also some legal details to work out and an agreement to be signed with the DIA before getting started.
“I think this will bring a lot of attention to our town,” Venet said. “Art improves the quality of your life, so I think this will be good for our community and we’re really lucky the DIA looked to us.”
The location of the project, should it be a mural, is likely to be the Medaugh Building on the corner of South Main Street and East Lafayette Street.
The DIA pointed out a couple of other locations however all parties agreed that the Medaugh Building was likely the best option.
The mural would be painted on a south-facing wall because it would be easy for residents and passersby to see while heading north on Main Street.
The project has already generated a lot of positive reactions.
“Everybody’s been very positive about it (the art project),” Venet said. “Everybody I talked to seemed very surprised and very pleased.”
“Our goal is to bring resources to communities to help them create something that is uniquely theirs and represents the community,” Garling said.
The DIA is also hoping this will help make a comeback for Southeastern Michigan, making it a good place to live, work, and start a family.
The DDA and Starkweather are sending out a public survey to 1,700 households and businesses to see what form of art project they would be most interested in and what themes they think would best represent Romeo.
The survey can be mailed or returned in-person to Starkweather Arts Center.
Starkweather has also published an online survey on their Facebook page for followers to respond to regarding the art project. Venet encourages all community members to participate and give their feedback, as any input they can get would be greatly appreciated.
“I would encourage everyone to participate in the online survey,” Garling said.
Garling urges people to participate not only in Romeo’s community art project, but also events taking place at the DIA.
Admission is free for residents of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties and there will be many art projects taking place there Tuesdays through Sundays over the summer.
There will also be food, music, and a great family atmosphere.
But no matter the day of the week, Garling invites all members of the community to pay the museum a visit.
“The DIA is not just a place for art, but a place for people,” Garling said. “We’d love to see you down here.”
