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Starkweather Hours: Thurs, Friday, Saturday 10-4

Our hours are limited due to the fact that we are staffed by volunteers.

Thanks for your support.

219 N. Main, Romeo, MI 48065

586.752.5700 

starkweatherarts@comcast.net

Mission Statement: To promote and foster the appreciation of the arts and artists and to support the preservation of the character and quality of life in the Historic Village of Romeo. 

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Fees, or Donate online via PayPal
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Romeo PNC Bank Offers Art for Sale

One of our Starkweather Artists will have a framed piece of artwork on display at PNC in their East Lobby.  The work will be for sale through Starkweather, and will change out every few months. Thanks PNC for support of SAC and our local artists!

Current artist: Joyce Kilpatrick of Bruce Twp.

 

Tri County Bank of Romeo Offers Art for Sale

One of our Starkweather Artists will have several pieces of artwork on display at Tri County Bank of Romeo on 209 S. Main Street.  The work will be for sale through Starkweather, and will change out every few months. Thanks Managers Joe Worden and Kim Davis and Tri County Bank!

Current artist: Janet Almstadt-Davison of Oakland Twp.

Bruce Township Offices Displays Local Artist

Bruce Township offices on E. Gates (East of Van Dyke, just north of the Village)have graciously offered our artists space to display their work.

Current artist: Marianne Ochalek of Romeo, MI

Village of Romeo Offices Displays Local Artist

Romeo Village Offices at 121 W. St. Clair has offered to display local artists. Thank you to President Meagan Poznanski and Romeo DPW

Current artist: Sue Michels of Washington Twp.

OPEN THURS, FRIDAY, SAT 10-4
You can reach us by email starkweatherarts@comcast.net

CALENDAR

We are open Thurs-Sat 10-4. We host monthly art shows to support our artist communities. We are a non profit 501C3 and are mostly staffed by volunteers.

Open Mic Night @ Starkweather: always the 4th Friday!
7PM, $4, $3 members

Holiday Gift Show
Now through December 23
Local artisans with glass, clay
, paper art, fiber and more

 

Ladies' Night Out
November 10, 2023, 6-9PM



 

Art Appraisals: Starkweather does not conduct art appraisals. For information on appraisals, please contact Dumouchelle's in Detroit.

Their website is www.dumouchelle.com or call 313-963-6255.

Art Sales: Starkweather does not purchase art from a secondary market to sell at the gallery. All art for sale is from local artists themselves, and is sold on a commission basis. This is in keeping with our mission statement to support local artists.

However, we do accept art donations, that we will offer for sale for donation to help support our gallery.

Consider including Starkweather Arts Center in your estate planning and give the gift of art to your community.

Starkweather operates from sales, donations, memberships, sponsorships, grants and revenue from events.  Your generous gift would help us continue our mission to promote the arts and preserve our lovely historic 1865 building. 

Holiday Show

Nov/Dec 2023

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Opening Reception: Friday, November 10, 6-9 as part of Ladies' Night Out. 

Thanks to our sponsor: Preceptor Delta Beta sorority.

Our Holiday Show features local artisans selling lovely handmade items including woodwork, ceramics, fiber arts and more.

If you are interested in selling, please contact us at starkweatherarts@comcast.net

Annual Member's Show

February/March 2024

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All Starkweather Members are eligible to enter 2 pieces of their current artwork to our annual Member's Show. 

Work will be juried for awards.

All media are accepted. 

This is a great opportunity to share your art with our community, whether you are a professional artist or a hobby artist or someone "in between"!

Clay Studio Support

A big THANK YOU to Four County Community Foundation!

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A big THANK YOU TO FOUR COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION for recent grant support for our Clay Studio. 

Starkweather received a $1000 grant towards clay supplies for our Summer of Clay and Empty Bowl programs.

With additional support provided by Starkweather Society, and our wonderful volunteer clay studio teachers, we are able to continue providing low cost clay classes and our Empty Bowl fundraiser to our community. 

Community Art "Peace Poles"

April 29. 2023

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Introducing our Peace Pole Project. We have partnered with Romeo High School Art teacher Lisa Joseph and 38 art students from Advanced Painting and Painting for Realism, and professional artists from the Thursday Brushes and United by Art, to decorate poles to represent nature, friendship and peace which will be installed in various locations in downtown Romeo. 

Funding is through the generosity of the Michigan Municipal League Foundation and their Bridge Builder Neighborhood Grant, Romeo Rotary and with assistance of local Boy Scouts Troop 87.

This effort is to help add artwork to the Village which involves the community and is cost-efficient. 

Placements:

Starkweather Arts Center Garden, 219 N. Main: Thursday Brushes

Romeo Kezar Library, 107 Church: Romeo High School Student Artists

Greater Romeo Washington Chamber of Commerce, 228 N. Main:

  Romeo High School Student Artists & Thursday Brushes

Uptown Dog, 111 S. Main: United by Art

People Driven Credit Union, 141 S. Main: Romeo High School Student Artists

135 W. St. Clair: Romeo High School Student Artists

Empty Bowls

October 13, 2023

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Since 2015, our little but mighty Clay Studio, has raised  over $20,000 which is donated to local food insecurity programs. One bowl at a time, our volenteers spend the spring and summer working toward supplementing local food pantries. 

2019: Our 2019 recipient was the Second Baptist Church of Romeo which was proudly celebrating 100 years of helping folks in need in our community! 

 2021:  Our Clay Studio was able to raise $3,518 through Empty Bowls which was split between MCREST and the First Congregational Curch of Romeo!  

2022: We raised over $6067 for the Romeo Community Schools Free & Reduced Lunch Program. 

2023: The Agape Center at St. Clements Church is our recipient and we raised just over $4000.


If you would like to help fight hunger here in Romeo and just be a "clay dabbler", you can sign up to make an Empty Bowl for our fundraiser to  be held in October.  The cost is $5.00 to make the bowl and it takes 2 visits which will be scheduled at times that are not scheduled for Open Studio. This is great for groups of all kinds that want to try something new, fill a need, or just plain show community spirit. Sign up with Peg at  586.752.6013. Group size will be limited.


62nd Annual Thumb Area Artists' Exhibition

August 31 - September 29

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Presented by the Romeo Guild of Art

Opening Reception: Friday, September 8, 6-9PM

Juror: Laurie Tennent    Awards over $1,500

Thanks to our Sponsors: Lakeville Animal Clinic, Ken Taylor Award, Romeo Family Restaurant, Iris Lee Underwood, PNC Investments/Wm Leahy, Sheenas Marketplace, Target, Rustic Bluebird, Meijer, JBaldwins/TestaBarra, State Farm/Matt Waligora, Romeo Accountants, Blick Art Materials, UPS Store 1883, Starkweather Society

1st Place: Fortune's Footsteps by Susan Kwolek

2nd Place: Molly by Kathie Bugajski

3rd Place: The Painter by Steven Lees

4th Place: Rainy Day in New York City by Leonard Russo

5th Place: Calm Waters by Sharon Toms

Honorable Mentions: Gen 7 Sorrow by Brenda Beene Shackleford,

Saving the Tradition by Debbie Marvin, Golden Light by Sharon Will

Starkweather Award: Max the Draft by Michele Hunt

Romeo Guild of Art Award: Eyes on the Prize by Kim Frank Fujiwara

People's Choice, In Person: Piano Pieces by Pamela Slomka

People's Choice, Virtual: Hillside by Claudia Hershmann




Music Programs

Open Mic

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OPEN MIC NIGHT @ Starkweather 4th Fridays.   Music starts at 7PM, $4, $3 members.

What are open mics? Come play, sing, read, perform! Come listen and enjoy! Performers sign in at the door and perform 2 or 3 numbers (depending on how busy we are).  Most of our performers are musicians but comedy, poetry, acting are all welcome. We welcome all ages and abilities.  Everyone pays the nominal amount, as this is a fund raiser for Starkweather Arts Center, a non profit.

Open Mic @ Starkweather is upstairs. (Sorry no elevators)

Classes

2024

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Clay Studio will open after Memorial Day. Please contact Instructor: Peggy Grandstaff at 586.752.6013 


Clay Studio will open in the spring with two options for a summer of clay fun. If you would like to work on projects all Summer long, there is a one-time cost of $60 per person and you can attend during our Open Studio times which are TBD.


Space is limited to six participants (including the staff) per session and you need to sign up by calling Peg at 586-752-6013.


 If you would like to help fight hunger here in Romeo and just be a "clay dabbler", you can sign up to make an Empty Bowl for our fundraiser to be held in October.  Proceeds will support local food pantries.  The cost is $5.00 to make the bowl and it takes 2 visits which will be scheduled at times that are not scheduled for Open Studio. This is great for groups of all kinds that want to try something new, fill a need, or just plain show community spirit. Sign up with Peg at the same phone number as above. Group size will be limited.


 If you are a teacher interested in running a class, give us a shout out at starkweatherarts@comcast.net.

Romeo Mural "Spirit of Romeo"

Our Romeo Gem

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Project Partners Starkweather Arts Center, DIA and Romeo DDA worked together with Lead artist Nicole Macdonald and artist Stephanie Sucaet-Felczak to create a mural in downtown Romeo on the Medaugh Building at 133 S. Main Street.


Special thanks to our generous community minded donors the Four County Community Foundation and Kiwanis of the Romeo Area.


A dedication ceremony took place Saturday, October 12 featuring guest speakers State Senator Peter J.Lucido, Village President Christine Malzahn, Four County Community Foundation Director Kathy Dickens, DIA Project Director Charles Garling and DIA Director Salvador Salort-Pons.


Additional contributors were Sue & Jerry Vagi and Charles Garling for the Mural Maintenance Fund. Thanks to Mike Romano of Tech City for filming the progress of the mural.

Romeo High School Art/Drafting Scholarships

Due March 1st, 2024

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Graduating Romeo High grads who are in pursuit of higher education in art or drafting related fields, and those who have previously received a Starkweather/Garvin Scholarship may apply for a Starkweather/Garvin Scholarship through the Four County Community Foundation.


2023 Award Winners: RHS 2023 grads Natalie Silos, Victoria Rutkowski, Avery Coe and Alumnae Marisa Cohen and Giovanni Zora


Please visit the Four County Community Foundation website: 4ccf.org "scholarships" page for application. For questions, contact Micaela Boomer  program@4ccf.org.

Sponsorships

Contact us for info at 752.5700

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What better way to directly impact your community than to become a Sponsor.  We are looking for sponsors for Gallery Shows, Music Programs, Events, Education, Building Preservation and Operations.  Your donation will help us continue our great programming and will let the community know that you value the arts, and how it improves the quality of life in Romeo and Northern Macomb County. We appreciate your consideration.


Thanks to our Grantors and Donors:

Bruce Township • Culligan • Culture Source • Detroit Area Woodturners • Donna Aul • DTE Energy Foundation • Emmet's Energy • Ford Motor Foundation • Four County Community Foundation • Friends of the Romeo District Library • Janet & Mark Davison • John & Renate Friedrich • John Murphy and Christina Muir • Kehoe Orthodontics • Ken Kiernicki • Kiwanis Club of the Romeo Area • Mark & Janet Davison • McLean, Mijak and Clark • MI Community Media • Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs • Mt.Vernon Tree • Northend Tax & Accounting • PNC • Preceptor Delta Beta Sorority • Record Newspaper • Renee Simon • Robert May Window Cleaning • Romeo Accountants • Romeo Guild of Art • Romeo Lions Club • Romeo Masons • Rule 62 Cafe • Rustic Bluebird • RWB Parks & Recreation • TheMitt.TV • Thee Office & Cookery • Tri County Bank of Romeo • UPS Store 1883 • Venture Global Engineering Foundation • Village of Romeo • Washington Township • Westview Orchards & Winery- Michigan Municipal League - Romeo Rotary Club - Lisa Joseph - United by Art - Thursday Brushes

The Artists of the Korean American Cultural Center of Michigan

October 2023

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Curated by Vianna Szabo

October 5th through October 27

Opening Reception Saturday, October 7, 12-3

The Korean American Cultural Center of Michigan (KACCM)

 has successfully served the Korean Community since 1965. The

current center was purchased on March 25, 2002 and provides a

variety of Korean cultural activities, cultural exchange events,

health programs as well as education and counseling services.

Korean and English language classes are also offered.

The Artists of the Korean American Cultural Center had painted

together for seven years, mostly in oil, with Instructor Timothy

Widener.  I took over teaching them in October of 2021.  Young

H. Kim asked that I teach the group different mediums and

subject matter.  We have worked on color, plein air, studio

landscape and portrait.  After one five-week session introducing

them to pastel, we traveled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where we

painted plein air along the coast.  Last summer I introduced them

to watercolor.

Our classes are structured in five-week sessions where we focus

on a medium or subject.  I teach every other Saturday

with them meeting and painting together in the weeks in between.  I am always amazed at the quantity and quality of work that occurs

during that time.

On a personal note, I am truly honored to be their instructor.  As a

group they are curious, hard working, supportive and a lot of fun.

As individuals I enjoy coaching and introducing each person to

new concepts that highlights their interests and strengths.

Vianna Szabo, IAPS-EP, PSA, GLPS, PSWC-DP, MWCS

Thanks to our Media Sponsor!
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