Detroit based abstract artists Amanda Koss & Thomas Nichols join with Romeo based glass artist Suzanne Wilson to present:

Self-Discovery

Over the past two years, our ever changing world has brought significant challenges.  It has also provided a valuable opportunity for introspection on personal values, well-being and relationships.  Such thoughtful reflection can lead us to discover new aspects of ourselves, our beliefs and our abilities.  This exhibit presents the work of three area artists who have chosen to express such contemplations through individual works of art.

Artist Carol Socks-Parker & the Sisters of the Brush

Opening Reception: Friday, June 2nd, 6:30-8:30PM

Clay artist Carol Socks-Parker will share her remarkable clay work along with well known painters who are known collectively as Sisters of the Brush. To include: Diane ONeil, Kristen Robinson, Yvonee Thigpen, Barbara Markham, Katherine Herra & Chandan Gupte. 

Our Summer Show, "Over the Moon" will depict our love with that heavenly body. Are you feeling over the moon? Are you in love with the night sky? Does the moon color your landscape and change your world in the nighttime? Come and see!

Open to all mediums. Juror is Laura Cotton, Curator of the Stamelos Gallery, UM Dearborn.

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

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.

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.

For 2019: Starkweather Arts Center Clay Studio, for the 4th year, made Empty Bowls to help fight food insecurity in our community. Our 2019 recipient was the Second Baptist Church of Romeo which was proudly celebrating 100 years of helping folks in need in our community! 

For 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!  

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

For 2023: 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.

Since 2015, our little but mighty Clay Studio, has raised just over $18,000 which was donated to local food insecurity programs. One bowl at a time. 

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)

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. 

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.

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