BrassWind Arts

Arts & Adventure in Indian River, Michigan

2011-11-29T06:48:00.001-08:00

Our new venture, Arts and Adventure Paddlesports at BrassWind Landing, in Indian River, Michigan features Native Watercraft kayaks and Liquid Logic kayaks with paddles from Bending Branches, Stand Up Paddleboards from Dolsey Ltd Surf Gear and Pau Hana Surf Company. Custom wood boats from BrassWind BoatWorks, Chesapeake Bay Light Craft and Mackinaw Watercraft. Sprayskirts and accessories from Seals, PFD’s, life vests and accessories from Stohlquist. For the Winter of 2011-2012 the Arts and Adventure Paddlesports store is open by chance or by appointment as we complete our renovations.

We offered Quiet Water Indian River Trips and Wilder Sturgeon River Trips during hte summer season of 2011 and will be offering river trips and rentals for 2012. The Sturgeon River is the fastest river in Northern Lower Michigan. We offer Kayak Lessons, Liquid Logic, Native Watercraft Kayaks and Custom Wood Boats & accessories, Bending Branches Paddles, Retail Sales. Location: 45.408617 Latitude / -84.614235 Longitude in downtown Indian River, Michigan nestled between Burt Lake and Mullett Lake on the Michigan Inland Waterway. Kayak Rentals by day or week to your cottage or home.

Fine Art Paintings & Prints, Sculptures and Photography featuring ArtPrize Artists Sheree Lincoln, Ron Head and Ana Lazovsky. Commissions accepted. Unique Gift Shop & Gallery. Hand beaded jewelry & hair sticks, soy candles, hand poured soap, beeswax lip balm, salt scrubs, The Designer Comb, a fair trade, South African hand beaded hair clips and other gifts. The gallery is almost ready to open as I write this in December of 2011. Visit our website for updates and to shop in our online store coming soon. www.artsandadventure.com

Richard Lincoln wood boat builder at BrassWind BoatWorks offers classes & workshops to build tape seam wood boats. Poly and Wood boats for sale or rent. Custom orders for Chesapeake Bay Light Craft designed boats. Ask about wood boat time share program.

Web Designer Sheree Lincoln creates artistic and professional websites. Visit BrassWind Designs website at www.brasswindweb.com Got WordPress? Easy Edit CMS Website. She also accepts commissions for paintings.

Arts and Adventure Paddlesports at Indian River

2011-02-12T07:32:00.000-08:00

Art on the Run painting by artist Sheree Lincoln. Featured in ArtPrize 2010.
Now accepting commissions for paintings and portraits.

Custom wood boat builder, Richard Lincoln with his Millcreek 13
built from a Chesapeake Bay Light Craft wood boat plan.

Watch for our new location in Indian River, Michigan. Our new to us building is called BrassWind Landing and will feature an art gallery, gift shop, woodshop for wood boat building (wood boats and wood boat kits), signs and architectural accents (like 3d carved cabinet faces) and kayak rentals and sales. We are a Legacy Paddlesports dealer for Liquid Logic and Native Watercraft with Bending Branches Paddles. Visit our new website at www.artsandadventure.com to watch our progress.

ArtPrize We are there!!!

2010-09-27T20:25:00.000-07:00

Well, I am there. Or at least I have the ArtPrize entry: Art on the Run a fluid acrylic painting on watercolor paper featuring the Jansma Friesian Horses. http://www.artprize.org/artists/public-profile/2836 . My husband, Richard Lincoln has been there helping me. We had a booth at the ArtPrize Art Fair this past Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Met lots of artists and other great people too. Even had a cameo appearance in a Funamals movie by Amy Hofacker. You can see her at ArtPrize too.

ArtPrize goes through October 9th. You can vote for as many people as you want until Wednesday the 29th. That is when they narrow it down to 10 finalists and the race is on.

Here are some other images from my entry. There is the painting above and then there was the process.

The mares from Jansma Friesians have a companion Gelding who is showing at the Keuring for Friesian Horses tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Ionia Fairgrounds. I did not know, when I was painting Art on the Run, that they actually run the Friesians. I hope to be there tomorrow.

The Lake Michigan Art Walk is coming up again with a special Christmas show at the Frauenthal Performing Arts Center in Muskegon, Michigan.

2nd Lake Michigan Art Walk

2010-08-29T15:34:00.000-07:00

Local TV coverage of the 2nd Lake Michigan Art Walk held at the Frauenthal Performing Arts Center. Sheree and Richard Lincoln from the BrassWind Gallery along with Chef Debra Ward - the Other French Chef, sculptors Michael Ward and Ron Head particpated along with 16 other artists from West Michigan. Check out the video link to the local TV coverage on WZZM.

http://www.wzzm13.com/video/brightcove.aspx?bctid=597319467001

Leukemia Benefit Arts & Crafts Show

2010-06-06T09:56:00.000-07:00

Arts & Craft Show 1st Weekend in June at Grandma's Place B and B east of Cadillac in Falmouth, Michigan. Great people, beautiful Bed and Breakfast on an old farm owned by Deb. The Art filled the outbuildings. The benefit was for the Children's Leukemia Foundation who has been Helping Lynnette with her Leukemia. Lynnette's husband Mike is partners with Deb in an art gallery at the B & B.We were very busy so did not have time to take pictures in all the buildings and on the grounds.

Of course I am always attracted to the horses so took their pictures. There were many artists and crafters with all kinds of great items from jewelry to carved wood ducks, paintings, photography, fly tieing and more.

Visit www.grandmasplacebandb.com

Take a trip to relax, visit with the lambs and smell the flowers! visit her website for a video from the local TV news!

New Lake Michigan Art Walk in Muskegon!

2010-05-25T11:04:00.000-07:00

The Muskegon Chronicle helped us get the word out about the new Lake Michigan Art Walk events. A group of West Michigan artists including the BrassWind Gallery Artists Sheree and Richard Lincoln, as well as Ron Head and Perry Seavitt, will be participating. Artist Bryan Snuffer is organizing the event.

Read more on his Blog at:
http://www.lakemichiganartwalk.blogspot.com/

Here is the latest article from the Muskegon Chronicle:

http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/05/group_working_to_organize_art.html

What is a Southpaw? Or Famous Baseball Sayings.

2010-04-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

Why is the left handed pitcher called a Southpaw you may have wondered? In most parks the expensive seats are in the cool shade of the summer afternoon. Chicago’s West side park is orientated so that it is open to the East. The hand on the arm of pitcher waiting to throw the ball to the West would his southern hand or south paw. A humorist named Finley Dunn coined this term in 1887 at that very park.

Texas Leaguer – 2nd rate player – because the Texas league was 2nd rate. The fields were gigantic and without fences. The outfielders would have to position themselves way out in the field or Deep so that almost nothing could get over their heads. The Batters would then just bloop it in with a soft hit ball where it would land fly and land like a “dying quail” or a “humpback liner” dropping the ball at the feet of the outfielder leaving the opinion that it wasn’t earned.

And then there is the batter; if you’re really good you want to hit a “frozen rope”. Picture exactly that, a rope you left lying in the snow. It would be frozen completely straight and that is what the batter would want, a very hard hit line drive that fly straight and low.

Spanish speaking fans have interesting nicknames for baseball. A fly ball is “a little dove” or palomita. A catcher is a “stopper” or parador, a pitcher is a “launcher” or lanzador. The infielders are the “Gardeners” (Jardineros) and you will find the “Forest Rangers” (bomberos) in the outfield.

Bush League – out in the bush – minor league – where there was little money for maintaining the fields so the grass grew tall like in a hay field and the balls rolled through it like woodchucks running for cover.

Dial 8 – home run balls hit so hard that you had to “dial 8” to get them back. Back in the day when there were still rotary dial phones a hotel guest would have to “dial 8” to get long distance.

The “K” was a swinging strike out – the batter swung and missed on the 3rd strike . Many baseball fans know that Dr. K was the New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden. But calling a strike out a “K” came from much farther back than that – back to the days when communication was by telegraph. A special short hand developed to get the news of the game out in just a few keystrokes. It was published in Chadwick’s Association Score Card in 1865 and was developed by Henry Chadwick, a famous sports book writer. The k is the prominent letter in strike. An “L” was a foul. An “F” was a fly, if you were had a putout on first base it was “A”, 2nd was “B” and you guessed it, 3rd base was “C”. This book eventually evolved into the Spalding’s Official Baseball Guide. Today a numbering system is used for keeping score. So the today a routine double play at short would be a 5-4-3.

The Backwards “K” – the humiliating 3rd strike out! This was the play that Earnie Harwell, the Hall of Fame Radio announcer for the Detroit Tigers would address by saying, “the batter just stood there like a house by the side of the road”. Other’s might have said he stood there “like a wooden Indian” or the “Statue of Liberty” At the same time Earnie might say “he swung at that one like an old rusty gate” when the batter didn’t swing well.

And then there is the “Wally Pip”. Wally Pip was the player who had a head ache one day and let newcomer Lou Gehrig play in for him. The rest his history; Lou Gehrig became a household name and played in over 4000 games in a row for the New York Yankees almost unheard of in this physically demanding sport. So today taking a day off is called a “Wally Pip”.

Baseball Fans: What is the old time name for a 5-4-3 or a double play combo at short? Email victor@newpage.net and let us know you are listening. As Harry Caray would say, “"Hello again, everybody. It's a bee-yooo-tiful day for baseball."

Biographies - Friends of a Feather

2010-04-12T19:31:00.000-07:00

As I walked around Fremont the other day with Grant McDonnell and his best friend, Coco, the numbers of people who greeted him by name amazed me. Grant was very candid and happy to share stories and information about his life with me.

Grant was born with a condition known as Cerebral Palsy. "Cerebral palsy is characterized by an inability to fully control motor function, particularly muscle control and coordination", according to the United Cerebral Palsy (UPC). Grant has difficulty balancing especially as he goes up and down stair steps, curbs or walks on uneven sidewalks. When asked about the spills he has taken he says, "I've been walking around since I was two. I have had scrapes and falls and slivers and I know I'll be okay."

CP makes it very difficult for the brain to control the bodies movement and coordination and in many cases, like Grant's, it even effects his speech. Grant expressed thankfulness for the gift of life his Mother gave him even with the complications his condition creates.

Many people driving by have thought he was drunk until they took a closer look or asked someone about him. There have been some who think he was drunk and have avoided him; and many others have taken the time to stop and talk with him over the years. I asked Grant about the fear some people may have about him or if he himself was fearful about how people would respond to him, he quoted an excerpt from Franklin D. Roosevelt's inaugural address, "have no fear, you have nothing to fear but fear itself.." and then he added in his own words, "I am content with that."

Grant thinks people with disabilities and those needing assistance "should be treated like every other individual." He does not like the word disabled or handicapped as he prefers the term "physically or mentally challenged".

When Grant's mother passed away in 1994 she gave him another gift, the large Macau parrot that many of you have come to notice on Grant's shoulder. Her name is Coco. Coco is very attached to Grant and he says she is like his child; they are very close. In fact she pouts when he goes away without her. Grant loves to travel and has taken a lot of hitchhiking trips. He often takes Coco with him - he says he gets lot of rides that way. lately, he has had to cut back on his traveling because most restaurants will not let Coco in. In addition to his many friends around town he has made pen pals online. He hopes someday he may be able to visit some of the friends he has made in New York and in Wichita, Kansas. He would love to travel but he thinks they probably would not let Coco on the plane.

Grant says that his mother and father recognized early on that their children had needs that needed to be taken care of first, they made sacrifices to take Grant to a special school, the Marquette School in Muskegon where they had a pilot program for special needs kids. Then Grant, (during his teen years) moved from Holton to Fremont with his Mother. He grew up on a farm here and eventually as an adult his Mother helped him plan to purchase a house in town.

Many of you may know Grant from his work at the Newaygo County Fairgrounds. He was trained by Marv Moon to help with maintenance at the fairgrounds. "Marv took me under his wing", said Grant. He believes he was probably the only handicapped employee to ever work at the fair and is very proud of that. He learned to use a hammer and nails, to manage garbage detail, housekeeping, odds and ends along with the barn cleaning one might expect at an agricultural fair. Grant was happy to lend a helping hand over the years. He was very grateful that Marv was his mentor and took the time to work with him. Grant volunteered at the fairgrounds from 1980 until his retirement with honors in 1999. In an article published in the Times Indicator to announce his retirement Grant said he did not want a gold watch, just a lucky gold horseshoe. The Fair Board granted his wish and gave him a beautiful plaque celebrating his years of service with a big gold horse shoe on it.

Grant retired from the fairgrounds, partly due to his health. He had to rely on a Wheel Chair to get around for the next two years. The Doctors suggested he may be in a wheel chair the rest of his life. Then, Grant was fortunate to be introduced to Nikken's wonderful magnetic products and his walks around town are a testament to the amazing benefits the magnetic shoe inserts provided. He said after just one week he felt much stronger. He eventually purchased the magnetic sleep bed as well and it was not to long before he was walking again. He feels so blessed to be walking, feeling healthy and energetic. For longer trips he still uses his electronic scooter festooned with safety flags to help motorists see him coming. He is often accompanied by his long time girlfriend, Chris McDonnell as she rides her bicycle along side him.

Since He has gotten some of his strength back Grant would like to find a farm to help out at or some new volunteer career. He likes animals. He said that cattle and large animals that kick might be hard for him to be around because his brain does not always let him get out of the way as fast as he tells it to, but smaller animals that need care would be fun for him to work with.

Grant is, however, thinking ahead to a time when his body may not be so strong and would like to learn do something with computers for his later years. Grant is trying to write a book on his computer. The typing is hard for him because his hands want to move to the next key over. He feels it would be helpful if he had a special keyboard with wider and larger keys and/or someone to assist him in typing. He tries to play the guitar once in a while just to exercise his fingers. With a smile on his face he tells me that even he cannot read his own handwriting. We laugh because many of us, like me, have this same challenge.

A retired school teacher and friend of Grant's, Ann Rogers, suggested the tentative title for his book be , "The Me You Never See". Grant's thoughts on paper read very smoothly, in contrast to his speaking voice which, at times, is effected by his Cerebral Palsy almost as much as his wandering gait. Here is an excerpt from Grant's Thoughts:

"My folks are gone. I retired 5 yrs after my mother passed away. My willingness to go on or live is because I refuse to give up on anything I set out to do, however driving a car isn't one of these. I've tried to copy my notes from my old computer. I hope it works if I find out that it doesn't I'll have to copy off another computer screen which wont be so bad, in fact it's a lot nicer than I thought it would be. There is still so much to learn & a lot more time to learn in.

I can't believe this is happening; all I can do is my best. My spelling is very rough but at least I can get my point across. I hope to find some kind of work that I enjoy doing that pays down the line, at least coffee money, ha-ha! At this point I'm drinking tea in the afternoon & all the other items like water, juice and so on. My father passed away in 2001 so I'm going on alone for the time."

If you or someone you know have an idea about a technology or craft that Grant might learn or if you know someone who might have patience and a kind heart to act as his mentor to teach him a new skill, he is ready for you to contact him. He said he would like to work enough to keep him supplied with coffee and donuts. He would also be happy to share his Nikken success story with anyone who may be interested and introduce you to some products that have given him back his legs.

When Grant recalled that his mentor, Marv Moon, "took him under his wing". Grant's parrot Coco seemed to illustrate a biblical truth. I saw him tucked under her wings and I am reminded of how God has promised to look after us in Psalm 91, Verse 4:

He will cover you with his feathers,

And under his wings you will find refuge,

His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Likewise, this community has been sheltering Grant for years, and many of you greet him with an open heart when you see him and Coco walking on the sidewalks of Fremont. Grant especially expresses appreciation to the mentors at his Bible study. Victor DuBois, the editor of this magazine, and I are hoping that if enough people read this article about Grant it may lead to someone with the resources too help with his book project or that it may lead to a publisher that might be interested in supporting the writing of his book. Please call the Fremont Legacy (NewPage) office at 231-924-5456 if you have any input or information that may help.

Grant is fortunate to own a home, as humble as it is, with some needed repairs. Perhaps you or your organization would be interested in volunteering some time to coordinate a project to help Grant with his home improvement needs?

If you see Grant and Coco walking the streets of Fremont, please stop and say hello. But, be warned that Grant has a somewhat dry sense of humor and is not afraid to tease. And by the way, if any of you have found your trash cans mysteriously returned from the curb to the house it was probably Grant; he said he needs the exercise!

Find Grant on Facebook click here.

Cerebral Palsy

What is cerebral palsy (CP)?

Cerebral palsy, also referred to as CP, is a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development; before, during, or shortly after birth; or during infancy. Thus, these disorders are not caused by problems in the muscles or nerves. Instead, faulty development or damage to motor areas in the brain disrupt the brain's ability to adequately control movement and posture.

"Cerebral" refers to the brain and "palsy" to muscle weakness/poor control. Cerebral palsy itself is not progressive (i.e. brain damage does not get worse); however, secondary conditions, such as muscle spasticity, can develop which may get better over time, get worse, or remain the same. Cerebral palsy is not communicable. It is not a disease and should not be referred to as such. Although cerebral palsy is not "curable" in the accepted sense, training and therapy can help improve function.

This information courtesy of
United Cerebral Palsy:
http://www.ucp.org

For Teens & Kids

www.kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/brain_nervous/story_cerebral_palsy.html

Read more at Wikepedia.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy

Seeds of Hope -

2010-04-10T22:59:00.000-07:00

A Dream, A Tragedy and Seeds of Promise
Special article by Sheree Lincoln

You may know Stephen Redman, of Shadowland Photography, as a gifted photographer and writer whose work is offered for sale at the Artsplace in Fremont. He has an artistic eye for capturing images from nature, animals and people; often using double exposures to create something unique and filled with wonder. His main business is as a forester, planting trees, gathering seed and managing forests through his company Timber Resources.

Creativity comes naturally for some, it is cultivated in others and for many, Like Stephen Redman it is enhanced by tragedy. Out of his tragedy he has not only renewed his creative strength, he has started a legacy for his children with his tree planting for them and with his latest project A Living Remembrance TM Tree Seed kits, which combine his seed business and his art, he hopes to open an art school and gallery in White Cloud.

In March of 2005 the NCCCA Statewide photography competition going on at the Artsplace, much like the one that is the current show at the Artsplace except that year the NCCA had teamed up with Hospice and the theme of the show was based around grief, serenity, peace and caring. The Morning after he dropped his entries off Stephen received a phone call that would change his life forever or in his own words, “in all conceivable terms, devastated” his life. His family’s house, the same one he had grown up in, and currently lived in, had burned to the ground.

He captured the process of discovering what was lost and what was gained out of that tragedy in his journal. I share part of it with you here, Stephen writes, “ When we drove up, the fire was out, and all that remained was a few spots of smoke and flashes of all those memories…. Memories of things I had long forgot, lifted out of the smoke and all those ashes…I felt everything I knew was gone. The little things I thought were mine, were not. All the collections: the coins, stamps, arrowheads, glass, pottery, cameras and equipment, little things of every size and shape. Things of wonder, that were now nothing more than the past.”

“I’m not sure how I survived the ten days that followed. Every time I closed my eyes, I traveled through every room. Every little shelf or corner had something special that would be saved for my children and theirs. All my journals were nothing more than ashes in a filing cabinet. all that I was; the things that were a part of me: the best that I could ever be. “

I followed Stephen’s story and the mourning words of his journal. It seemed to him that he had lost his very self. On the 10th day after the fire he returned to the Artsplace to view all of the photographs on display in the NCCA competition and in Hospice Big Picture Project Show, including two of his, “…living water’ and “Thou Art With Me”. Many of the photos in that show were portraits of families in Hospice taken by the photographer as a gift to those families because their children were ill. There were faces of children everywhere and they spoke to him as he writes, “I don’t remember which I saw first: the happiness from the child’s eyes or the pain hidden beyond the smile of a Mother or a Father who knew they would soon lose their child to cancer. I’m not sure what happened to me that afternoon; but all at once, I was given the chance to remember. When I left I realized how lucky I truly was. For my children were alive and well; my family was safe. Their little smiles, I could still see and touch. Kiss their faces; hear their little voices and laughter… One hug or smile will shelter me for years.”

Many of his journals had been filled with inspiration from his children (Sean, Erik, Sierra and Joel) and nature, and now tragedy reborn into thankfulness. He had spent many years writing while on his tree planting sojourns for the Forestry service and others. These trips led him to want to create a legacy for his children and to encourage people to plant trees as A Living Remembrance TM. He has created a Remembrance Tree Seed Kit and a Forest in a Box Seed Kit so you can plant your own seeds. The seed kits come in an attractive box made from recycled materials.

The cover art work was created by Artist and now retired, White Cloud Art Teacher, David Gacchina, adapted by BrassWind Designs and includes some of Stephen Redman’s writing on the well appointed box.

He writes “Trees are an integral part of everyone’s lives from the air we breathe to the paper and wood in our homes. There is aesthetic value to lying quietly in the coolness of the shade from your favorite tree while watching clouds drift slowly by. Some of my best writings and photography have been inspired in nature. There is great joy in watching the sun set over a newly planted field of half a million trees or standing underneath huge pines and seeing, and feeling, the power of the lightening as it crashes to the earth. I have been planting trees for land owners for nearly 30 years with over 32 million trees planted on over 32,000 acres across Michigan. As I watch my children grow, along with over 1,200 acres of pines, tamaracks, and oaks I have planted for them; I feel the contentment of a legacy left. By purchasing Shadowland Seeds you can create a living remembrance with your family nurturing your seeds and then planting your own trees. The distribution and plantings of our seeds along with the harvesting of its timber will help support my vision to build an art school and gallery. I am content knowing I am helping you plant your legacy as I continue to grow mine.”

Each seed kit contains 15 or 20 seeds in an origami folded seed packet, peat pots and instructions for planting your seeds, a Remembrance card where you can note where your tree was planted and by whom; there is even a place for the GPS location. The card also talks about the nine different species of trees available.

NewPage publishing is sponsoring a coloring contest in this issue to accompany this article. The winners will each receive one of the Remembrance Tree Seed Kits.

Visit Stephen Redmen's Shadowland website at www.shadowlandseed.com

Biographies - The Empowerment Network

2010-04-08T22:06:00.000-07:00

Winter fun is not just about snow. For some people, finding a bargain in a second hand store can be just as exciting as the exhilaration a snow boarder feels when he is really dialed-in and tweaks a backflip. If the winter blahs are carving their way into your life and finding some big air on the slopes does not excite you nearly as much as saving money on your favorite treasure then do I have a fun place for you to visit. I recently discovered the greatest little second hand store in Fremont. I also learned how this unique store has helped a special and unique group of people in our community, the mentally ill. The members of the Newaygo County Mental Health Drop in Center operate the Empowerment Center where I met with several of its 124 members and would like to share some of their success stories.

The Center is located in the former Graichens Store building. The front of the store houses the second hand storefront along with its mascot of sorts, a beautiful carousel horse. This horse has been so popular with countless numbers of people offering to purchase it, that a second carousel horse is being built and will be raffled off as a fundraiser for the center. The annual budget does not cover all that the center does so the second hand store and the donations in the form of resale items really help.

The rest of the building line with the beautiful brick walls and a series of large matching wrought iron chandeliers you may remember from Graichens serve as a meeting place for the members of the Drop in Center. It is literally a place where a person can drop in and share activities with other members. There are 4 or 5 round tables with chairs where once a week the Empowerment Center family cook and share a meal together. Other times they may work on a craft or life skills project play bingo or Yahtzee. There are computers where they can check their email, browse the Internet and pool table where they have a monthly tournament. Towards the back there is lounge area with several large reclining chairs, a sofa and a TV. One of the more popular activities is Movie Nite every Saturday from 3:00 to 8:00 pm. The center provides a driver to pick up its members on Mondays and Tuesdays and bring them in for activities.

The Gasahl family owns the building and have been instrumental in supporting center with a reasonable rental rate because they believe in the benefit to the members and the community by having a Drop in Center for the mentally ill or a more preferable term, mentally disabled.

Gabrielle Blackwell is the Director of the Empowerment Network along with its companion resale shop called Wishes and Horses The Empowerment Emporium; the store provides funding beyond the budget granted by the County, which enables the center to do more for its members. The Drop in center has become a home away from home for many of its members with the most important benefit being very similar to what our own homes provide us with, a sense of sanctuary.

Gabrielle describes her own family home in this way, “ Our house is our sanctuary. It is the good place to go when the world offers a bad experience. It keeps me stable. The drop in center is like that for the members. The past haunts many of them and this place is a bright future.”

Tim Hansen is the Assistant Director and an example of what the nurturing environment at the center can accomplish. He moved here ten years ago to escape the rush of the city environment in Grand Rapids and started dropping in to the center when it was located on the west end of town. Tim’s past was very troubled, filled with struggles with depression and a family history that had been emotionally harmful. It did not help that he had been diagnosed with Schizophrenia. Tim Hansen asked me to share that only one out of one hundred schizophrenics have dangerous tendencies they are often more harmful only to themselves through depression and the suicidal tendencies that may produce. As Tim Hansen says they are different than what he calls “average people”. His friends at the center may be more shy the first time you say hello to them on the street but do not let that stop you because some of the members will greet you with a big smile.

I spoke with Tim and he told me one of the things he likes best about the center other than the many fun activities is the focus it gives him. When he stays focused on what he can do to make the center better and how he can help its other members it saves him from having time to be depressed. His work in the community, along with the volunteer work of other members of this dedicated group of individuals, representing the Center at community events, helps let other people know that people with schizophrenia or other mental illnesses can be productive citizens.

Gabrielle smiles as she tells me “Both she and the Empowerment Network Board I represent are very proud to have Tim represent the Drop In Center at public events in our county. His past was very dark and his future is so bright.” Part of how the center helps people like Tim is by providing them with an environment that encourages them to stay on their medications, understand the side effects and eat right. Gabrielle continues by saying, “ They learn about the social aspects of life so they can be active in the community and continue to live independently or become able to do so. Each person has their own personality and by learning the social aspects of life they learn to get along. ” After meeting with her and the other members I met, I could see how they had blossomed with guidance the center offers and the support of friends who in most cases become their family. Many of these special people do not have families to spend time with and not always by choice like Jerry Jo Amelia.

Jerry moved here four years ago when his family had all passed away. Through his work and friendships at the Drop in Center he has learned to make phone calls, set appointments, and cook. Jerry told me that the best thing about the Drop in Center is the family he has met there and that “They allow me to do stuff “. He has learned that in a nurturing environment with patient teachers that he could accomplish many things. He now has a job at Taco Bell something he could not have done four years ago. He and Tim are friends and roommates and were recently able to purchase their own home.

I also met with an artist named Pixie Stevens. She is very creative and loves to paint, draw and make cut paper flower collages. I spent an afternoon with her talking and looking at her artwork. She was selecting 2 of her paintings to be placed on display at a Dentists office. Her work is colorful and cheerful and helps to keep her focused. She would like to start a small business with her daughter Heidi, making greeting cards. Ada Linderman from Michigan Rehabilitation Services through Michigan Works has been working with her on this project.

Pixie has mental illness. She lived for a number of years in a group home in Grant. In 1999 her friends at the home encouraged her to realize she was ready and able to live independently. She now lives in her own home. In addition to her art and her friends at the Empowerment center Pixie says that the Doctors and Staff at New Focus at Gerber Memorial Hospital were very helpful in helping her to “believe in herself and unlock her potential”, to use the words of author Mary Ellen Copeland who wrote the Wellness Recovery Action plan known as WRAP which Pixie teaches and shares some of with others through a Self Advocacy program at the Empowerment Center. This program helps encourage the mentally ill to be brave and speak up and advocate for themselves, ask for help and even to have the courage to say no when needed. You can read more about it at www.mentalhealthrecovery.com. Pixie is well enough now to work for Newaygo County Community Mental Health as she works toward her goal of operating her own greeting card business.

The businesses on either side of the Emporium, like the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, One East Main Street and Red Pine Crafts have, along with much of the City, have embraced the Emporium and the Drop in Center. They are “good neighbors” and the Drop in Center members return the favor by volunteering at many city events. The knights of Columbus and the Fremont Foundation have helped make the center a better place as well. A special, heartfelt thank you from Empowerment Network Drop in Center goes out to all the people who have supported the center and have donated time, store re-sale items or funding.

The center is helping to beat the stigma of mental illness and show the community that mental illness does not have to be scary. The Emporium is a warm, friendly place whether you drop in the back door near the Farmers Market or come in through the front door to shop at the store or bring in your donations. So if winter fun for you includes finding a bargain, stop by to find yours. The Emporium is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00am to 4:00pm and Saturdays from 3:00pm to 8:00 pm.

Arts & Crafts Shows for Spring

2010-04-08T07:29:00.000-07:00

Watch for us at the National Trout Festival Arts & Crafts Show in Kalkaska April 27th and Mesick Mushroom Festival May 8th. Thank you to all the ladies who stopped by our Booth at the Women's Expo and the Farwell Quilt Show in March.

Women's Expo This Weekend ~ Grand Rapids

2010-03-10T20:32:00.000-08:00

Watch for us at the Women's Expo with hair clips and art wire and beaded hair sticks. We will be sharing a booth with Kathy formerly from Goldfingers Tanning in Grand Rapids. She has sold her business and will be doing more arts @ craft shows this year as Kathy's Road Show ~ traveling boutique with clothing, hats and more.. Look for this poster. The hair clips are buy 2 get 1 free...

Here is a clip from one of the Oscar nominated movies.. just had to share it somewhere..

Precious

Courage and Faith Sculpture

2010-01-04T16:49:00.000-08:00

We our proud to be presenting the beautiful limited edition bronze sculpture, Courage and Faith, from artist Ron Head. It is a sculptural tribute to fallen firefighters created in the 3 days after September 11th, 2001. You can learn more about how you can purchase this sculpture for your collection or help make it available to your local fire department by visiting http://www.courageandfaith.net

Say Hello to SailAway Hosting from BrassWind Designs

2010-01-04T16:27:00.000-08:00

As many of you know in addition to the online gallery we also offer Web & Graphic Design through Sheree's company, BrassWind Designs. We have just launched Sailaway Hosting for web hosting and domains. Actually we have offered these services for several years but never actually acquired a domain name that led directly to the hosting part of our business. We work with the same parent company that owns Go Daddy. If you are familiar with their services and pricing then you will be familiar with ours.

Please take a look at the great web hosting packages along with SSL Certificates, domain transfers, registration, shopping carts, web site tonight (for those who want to create their own) and other great ideas for your website. BrassWind Designs is now specializing in WordPress.org installations for clients. WordPress recently won an award for being one of the best Blog systems out there. A blog is just a way of sharing information, stories etc.. on the internet without having to know how to write html. The neat thing about WordPress is that it has widgets, plugins and other great add-ons that when installed can let you do all kinds of helpful and fun things on your page.

Here is the hosting address www.sailawayhosting.com

Christmas Craft Shows are Over

2009-12-15T18:43:00.000-08:00

ArtPrize was a great time in Grand Rapids in the fall. So many artists, from performance art to traditional art. Our exhibit for sculptor Ron Head, called 'The Healing Touch' was a success as far as getting the word out about the sculpture of the same name. "She" was included as one of 5 pictures of art in the Grand Rapids Press on the night of the closing cermonies. The subject was "The Art of Healing"; how perfect, and it was a full page!

Now we are approaching Christmas and have had a full plate of Christmas Craft shows in Fremont, Mears and several in Rockford. At those shows we have the hand beaded hair clips, the Luchie's families Maple Syrup, The Beachy's Amish Rugs, our own Back to You Boomerangs and JAne Stroschins hand painted Christmas Ornaments. I am just now adding the new hair clips to the online store on our website.

Next weeks project is adding a website for Ron's sculpture "Courage and Faith". This firefighter scultpure was created in the three days after 911. It features an angel on the shoulder of a firefighter; a reminder that his or her Guardian Angel goes with him on every call.

Art Prize

2009-10-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

ArtPrize ends this week. I hope you have had a chance to see our exhibit at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Michigan and Division.