Super Saturdays! Youth Classes
FREE First Saturdays of the Month
Free, fun, art classes for kids, 1st through 5th grade
with Peg Grandstaff & Sherry Bonczak
February 1, March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7
2 times to pick from: 10 AM - NOON OR 1 - 3 PM
Registration required. Space limited.
Just call to sign up for a cool, easy art project you can make & take!
CALL 586.752.5700 to register.
YOUTH ART CLASSES: THEMED ART CLASSES!
CALL US TO REGISTER
"Playing with Paint"
Teacher: Peg Grandstaff
Feb 15, Feb 22, Mar 8
Cost: $18 for 3 sessions
Ages: 7-9 years Time: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Complete 5 unique painting projects that explore the many different aspects of this 'messy' medium.
Wear old clothes and be prepared to try something new!
"Playing with Sculpture"
Teacher: Peg Grandstaff
Mar 15, Mar 22, Mar 29
Cost: $18 for 3 sessions
Ages: 10-12 years Time: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Cut it, tape it, paste it, plaster it and see what happens!
Complete sculptures in 5 different mediums and see where your creativity leads!
"String Art Project"
Teacher: Sherry Bonczak
April 12
Cost: $8
Ages: 8-12 Time: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Revisit a 70's craft using string art to create a colorful spirograph design.
"Japanese Sushi Plate"
Teacher: Sherry Bonczak
May 17
Cost: $8
Ages: 9-12 Time: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Make your very own decorative Japanese Sushi Dish using clay and Black Emperor Rice
"Playing with Clay"
Teacher: Peg Grandstaff
Coming Summer 2014!!
Dapper couple
The Starkweather Millinery
Dapper couple
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.
CLOSED JULY 4
219 N. Main, Romeo, MI 48065
586.752.5700
Mission Statement: We promote and foster the appreciation of the arts and artists and support the preservation of the character and quality of life in the Historic Village of Romeo.
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.
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: Marianne Ochalek of Romeo, MI
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: David Miller, 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: Janet Almstadt-Davison of Oakland, MI
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.
Starkweather Arts Center
219 N. Main, Romeo, 48065
Open Thurs-Sat 10-4
CLOSED JULY 4
Open Mic 4th Friday of the Month
7PM, $4, $3 members
"Hats Off!"
An exhibition from the Starkweather Millinery, 1900's - 1960's
Thanks to the Romeo DDA for your sponsorship
Thanks to Host restaurant for your support
Featuring hats from Emilia Starkweather's (Helen's mother) hat shop.
Through July 25th
Frame and Orphan Art sale
Watt Pottery Sale
August 2026
Thumb Area Artists' Exhibition
September 2026
Opening Reception August 29, 2026
Noon-3PM
"My Americana"
October 2026
Open art show. Application available on this page.
Sorry, no 3D work this time. Everything must be hangable.
Romeo Art & Wine Walk
Empty Bowl Fundraiser for Food Insecurity
Friday, October 9, 2026
6-9pm
Clay Studio is supported by Romeo Lions Club and Meijer
Holiday Show
Accepting applications for new crafters for our annual show.
Email to starkweatherarts@comcast.net
"Hat's Off!"
Last Day July 25th
Sponsored by the Romeo Downtown Development Authority
An exhibition of hats from the Starkweather Milinery which was once owned by Emilia Starkweather (Helen Starkweather's mother).
Hats are from the 1900's through the 1960's.
Help us celebrate by wearing a hat of your choice at the opening!
Frames & Orphan Art Show, Watt Pottery Sale
August 2026
Help us clean out the storage area!
Aug 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15 10-4
Sales support our "Elevator Fund"
Thumb Area Artists' Exhibition
Aug/Sept 2026
A juried show presented by the Romeo Guild of Art, now in its 65th year!
Shown is the 2025 winner "Durable Committments" by Sarah Kasper
This year's juror is artist Anita Bates.
Clay Studio Support
A big THANK YOU to Romeo Lions Club & Meijer
A big THANK YOU TO ROMEO LIONS CLUB & MEIJER COMMUNITY GRANTS!
Starkweather received generous donationS towards clay supplies for our Summer of Clay and Empty Bowl programs from Romeo Lions Club and Meijer Community Grants.
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.
"My Americana"
October 2026
Opening Friday, October 2nd 6-8:30PM
Share your art that represents the cultural touchpoints of life in the US - family, friends, places, activities or heritage - that shows your experience with life in this country, past or present.
Show is open to hangable are only (no 3D) due to a prior committment.
All mediums are eligible. Call for art available on this page.
Art pictured is "Window Shopping" by Jim Fetter, and is a part of the Starkweather Collection.
Elevator Fund
Ongoing
Announcing our "Elevator Fund" with the hopes of making our 1865 building's 2nd floor accessible to all!
Our current contributors are:
In Memory of Carolyn & Gary Anthony
John & Renate Friedrich
Mark & Janet Davison
Starkweather Society
Open Mic Night musicians & guests
If access is an important issue for you or your organization, we would love to hear from you!
Romeo High School Art/Drafting Scholarships
Due March 1st, 2026
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.
2025 Award Winners: Alumnae Nick Fredericks, Natalie Silos, Avery Coe RHS 2025 Grads Nick Carpenter and Gabrielle Gilliam
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
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: MEIJER
Bruce Township • Culture Source • Detroit Area Woodturners • Donna Aul NorthEnd Accounting • 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 • Romeo Guild of Art • Romeo Lions Club • Romeo Masons • Rustic Bluebird • RWB Parks & Recreation • TheMitt.TV • 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 - Extra Credit Union
Romeo Mural "Spirit of Romeo"
Our Romeo Gem
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.
Community Art "Peace Poles"
April 29. 2023
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 9, 2026
Since 2015, our little but mighty Clay Studio, has raised close to $30,000 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.
2024: Four County Community Foundation's "Feeding Families Forever" project, we raised $3262
2025: Samaritan House was recipient this year with a donation of $3300.
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. Please contact us in April to sign up for the 2026 season. Or Call Peg Grandstaff directly at 586.752.6013.
Holiday Show
Nov/Dec 2026
Opening Reception Friday November 13, 6-9PM
New vendors can apply by email: starkweatherarts@comcast.net
Classes
2026
Clay Studio will open when the weather breaks, ususally in May. 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 $70 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 an art teacher interested in teaching class, please email us at starkweatherarts@comcast.net. Classes run best if you have a few students lined up to start.
If you are a teacher interested in running a class, give us a shout out at starkweatherarts@comcast.net.
Thanks to our Media Sponsor!
