Annual Report 2018 JAMES R. CONTACT DESANA Phone: 734-720-0671 Fax: 734-720-0672 CENTER FOR general email inquiries: ARTS & CULTURE [email protected] 81 Chestnut, Wyandotte 48192 www.downriverarts.org K.J. SNOES Typography of Disinegration

ANNUAL REPORT 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS...... 2

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY...... 6

MEET OUR TEAM...... 10

MEET OUR BOARD MEMBERS...12

MEET OUR RESIDENT ARTISTS...13

INCOME STATEMENT 2017...... 17 MARTINE MACDONALD The Annunciation 2 VISUAL ART EXHIBITIONS 2018 MAJOR 25 ACHIEVEMENTS in our Main and Community Galleries 5,000+ patrons

who come through our doors annually seeking to expand their hearts and minds by engaging in classes, performances, and art exhibits

RESIDENT 9 ARTISTS Engaging, exhibiting, and teaching out of the facility growing from 7 resident artists in 2017. 220 members from 18 Downriver Communities DON GUTZ Fractal Three - Chaos Theory 4 MAJOR Continuing restoration movement on second floor performing area. This work has made new ACHIEVEMENTS programming possible like ballroom dancing and more music oriented concerts and events. We are continuing to make more improvements, which will Downriver Poets and Playwrights invited the help to draw more professional performing acts to community to lend an ear to their literary works the arts center. during their “National Poetry Month Celebration” at the DCA, free and open to the public. Redesign of our website to reflect who we are and inspire people to get involved and take action. Introduced and educated the Downriver area by bringing new visual art exhibits from the Native Partnership with the Chamber Artists of Southeast American community and Lincoln Park High School Michigan to begin an annual summer concert series in graduating seniors. June 2018. Partnered in 2017 with the Kroger Company, to Hosted impactful events in our main gallery in 2017; identify a professional artist to create indoor mural such as the Deaf Arts Festival Masquerade Gala: an artwork for the new Kroger Marketplace store in art exhibit, fundraiser and educational awareness Southgate. campaign featuring deaf and hearing-impaired artists; and a scholarship fundraiser exhibit for Spina Established the DCA Youth Arts Council - a group of Bifida to raise awareness of the defect in individuals young artists from around the Downriver community of all ages who are dedicated to promoting and the visual and performing arts. Their mission is to grow and nurture Continuing to bring curated art for all over the world a community of local budding artists, as well as to via Art-O-Mat to Downriver (A converted cigarette give young people a safe, wholesome, and beneficial machine that vends art from artists all over the environment to express themselves in. world.) Partnered with numerous other non-profit organizations, education institutions and socially conscious community groups to provide events and spaces for groups such as Josephine Ford Cancer This is just a small Center, TechShop , Henry Ford Wyandotte representation of Hospital, CultureSource, ARC, and many others. the activities that the DCA participates in regionally to support artists and activities that will contribute to the Downriver area’s arts and cultural diversity. ERICA CHAPPUIS Port of Call 6

ORGANIZATIONAL Founded in 1978, the Downriver Council for the Arts (DCA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) arts and cultural organization that proudly serve nearly 400,000 residents in 21 Downriver communities. Downriver HISTORY is the area in Michigan comprised of cities south of Detroit. In historic times, these cities were accessible by traveling down the . Downriver overall is known as a suburban Detroit region with working-class residential neighborhoods and includes Allen Park, Belleville, Brownstown, Ecorse, Flat Rock, Gibraltar, , Huron, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, River Rouge, Riverview, Rockwood, Romulus, Southgate, Sumpter Twp, Taylor, Trenton, Van Buren, Woodhaven and Wyandotte.

The Downriver Council for the Arts began its existence in 1978 as a division of the Downriver Community Conference (DCC). The DCC had been founded by cities and townships in the Downriver area as a cooperative organization that believed it was advatageous to work together on major projects that were best served by mutual efforts. They recognized that the arts were a vital organization that could oversee the arts and component of the quality of life in the entire stimulate artistic development. A board of directors area and that Downriver lacked a comprehensive was formed out of persons belonging to several Downriver cultural groups who established goals and tasks that this new arts organization could accomplish. The mayors and supervisors of the DCC Board arpproved the new arts office in August of 1978 “to promote, stimulate and encourage throughout the Downriver community the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest therein.”

The DCA is 40 years old in 2018. 7 ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY The DCA operates out of the James R. DeSana Center for Arts and Culture (the Center), a three- story, 20,000 SF historic building located at 81 Chestnut Street in downtown Wyandotte. The Center became the home of the DCA in 2010 through a partnership with the City and the DDA. We are excited to report that in late 2016 the City of Wyandotte and DDA extended our lease for a 10-year commitment. We feel this partnership will solidify our place and home as a regional arts and cultural center. Our goal for the James R. DeSana Center for Arts and Culture is to be a multi-use, multi-generational, and multi- cultural destination arts facility that contributes to the expansion of the area’s economic development initiatives and provides educational opportunities for the communities into the future. The Center serves the community in three ways: it creates opportunities for community artists to showcase their skills, it serves as a cultural resource for the community, and it serves as an educational facility.

A successful summer creative camp program for children, ranging from core fundamentals, like drawing and painting, to specialized camps, such as mixed media and acting. 145 kids in 26 different camps! Ballroom Dancing at the art center ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

MARY JO CARAUANA Chestnut Art Fair, 2018

CHERYL ZEMKE c3fashions

CHESTNUT ART FAIR, 2018 NADINE VADASSY Assemblage of Found Objects 10 MEET OUR TEAM “I am seeking. I am striving. I am in it with all ERIN LYNN ERIN SUESS CAMPBELL DAVIS my heart.” Vincent van Gogh Executive Director Office Manager Design Intern [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Erin is a lifelong Downriver Lynn is a retired Executive Erin Davis is a senior resident, growing up in Assistant with years of office illustration and graphic Lincoln Park and earning an management experience design student attending Associate’s Degree in art working for high-level Grand Valley State University. from Henry Ford Community senior management in the College and a Bachelor’s chemical and automotive She was a 2014 Degree in art from Wayne industries. Her role as DCA scholarship awardee State University. Following recording secretary for the and has followed the DCA OUR MISSION graduation, she worked as a board of directors’ executive since then. While returning graphic designer for design board meetings and general to enrich the agencies and the Detroit home for the summer of News and Free Press before membership meetings 2018, she is interning with the quality of life in advancing her career to art simply begins to set the DCA and working on design director with a Dearborn stage for the invaluable the Downriver services she provides to projects to enhance her agency. Throughout that time, portfolio. Erin served on the Board of the DCA. Lynn leads by communities by Directors for the Downriver coordinating, managing Council for the Arts (DCA) for and facilitating membership advocating and 6 years and in classes, programs, and volunteered services for camps, and the DCA general promoting the their website design and membership. She acts as the arts and providing upkeep, graphic design and organization’s primary liaison social communication. She with the public in matters opportunities now has acted as Executive of building maintenance Director with the DCA since and reporting information for involvement the summer of 2016. In this to the city. In addition to capacity, she anticipates coordinating the rental of and participation using her board experience our artist studios and event to take a more pro-active and spaces, she manages the in arts and direct role in achieving the goals and maintaining the Artisan Gift Shop inventory, cultural activities. mission of the DCA. Personal sales and display. Lynn also experience has taught her has a creative side, helping that the arts are very to create flyers, decorating important to the community for events, and donating and nurturing communities and creating raffle baskets through arts and culture is an for fundraisers. Her hours important aspect of donated time, talent and of being involved with the money to assist the DCA help DCA. to round out her involvement.

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MEET OUR BOARD MEMBERS JOAN DALE LINDA BROPHY COOK SOULES President Past President Treasurer Fund Vice President President, Seaway “Art enables Development PNC Bank, Chorale & Director, Wayne Allen Park Orchestra us to find ourselves Metro Action and lose ourselves PAULA JAMES R. PHILLIPA at the same time” BOASE DESANA MATAKASe Thomas Merton Secretary Member at large Member at Large Director Past Mayor, City Self Employed Real Economic of Wyandotte, MI Estate Development Development, Past State Senator Downriver Community Conference Cheryl Alt Jan Dunbar Judy Nelms Karen Ranka Instructor, WCCCD Homemaker / Artist Retired Professional Owner/Manger Downriver Campus Country Manor, Grosse Ile Rob Bovitz Scott Galeski Mary Ann Perttunen Faye Tabor President Bovitz CPA Retired Wyandotte Retired High School Retired Professional PC. & Bovitz Mgmt. Police Detective Principal Services, Inc.

Evelyn Cairns Maureen Keast Michelle Porter Steve Wildern Columnist Retired Professional Academic Service Theatre Operations Dearborn Times- Officer III Dean, WCCCD Herald Joseph G. Kuspa Waltraud Prechter Mayor of Southgate, Founder, Heinz C. Delores Elswick Owner Lockus Prechter Bipolar Retired High School Investments Research Fund Principal 13

“Every child is an artist, the problem is

MIKE SCOTT JAMIE staying an MULLEN GALESKI LEBOUF artist when

Mike completed a BFA from Scott A. Galeski is an award Born and raised in Lincoln Park, you grow Wayne State University in winning independent Michigan, Jamie creates hand- Detroit, Michigan where he filmmaker and a retired police crafted, artisan chocolates and up.” focused on skills in drawing detective from Downriver confections in the kitchen at and printmaking. His craft Detroit, Michigan. His long- the Art Center and distributes Pablo Picasso today is realized through the term commitment as a coach them throughout Southeast and mentor to at-risk and relief process in printmaking Michigan. As a Muslim-American disadvantaged youth, in where it is printed from an 1891 combination with his law woman, she spent nearly 20 Chandler & Price letterpress enforcement career has years abroad perfecting her craft custom restored himself. given him a unique insite and opened her first boutique He works as a freelance art into filmmaking. In 2009 chocolate production facility and director and in addition to his Galeski founded Ring of Fire group of retail stores in Beirut, graphic and fine art work, Mike Entertainment which has Lebanon. Recently she has is a musician playing guitar, produced over 30 independent been selling her product every mountain dulcimer and Celtic films and music videos that weekend at Eastern Market in harp. Mike’s love for traditional have screened throughout Detroit. See more on Instagram American music is an influence the world. He has worked as @jpatricechocolatestudio. on his printmaking and can a technical advisor with HBO, be seen on his website at Tri-Star Pictures and other production companies, provides michaelmullencollection.com. executive security for Actor Jeff Daniels and has served as a road manager for Detroit Rock Legend, Mitch Ryder. In 2016 he founded the Downriver Detroit Student Film Consortium diversely consisting of students from Detroit and Downriver area schools. (More info on the DDSFC program can be found section 7). See more on their Facebook page. 14

MEET OUR RESIDENT ARTISTS

“Creativity Takes Courage” Henri Matisse

MARTINE DONNA JOE MACDONALD HINSON HOSLER

Martine is an accomplished Donna teaches classes through Joe is an artist who has spent artist and Adjunct Professor the DCA for children and adults, the last 5 years creating artworks at Wayne County Community including the DCA’s Youth Art that deliver an impact and have a College. She explores notions of classes and the DCA’s Youth story to tell. He works in various place and time, refined through Summer Art Camps. Previously mediums and is not limited life experiences, dreams and Donna was the owner/operator to aerosol paints, airbrush, memories into a visual essence. of a gallery and studio on acrylics, pencil, and ink. As he She strives to move her work Grosse Ile, and now focuses is growing in popularity, he has towards a spirituality that her paintings on relationships been commissioned to create reconciles issues of mothering, between people, self and the various murals in the Downriver home, place and identity. Her larger society. She is interested community. His work can be work can be seenat her website in what makes us who we seen on Instagram at martinemacdonald.com. are and how we interact with @hoss_designs. one another, how the larger world influences us and how we influence the world. Many of her pieces rely on nuanced balance and simplicity, and can We provide be described best as intimate looks at ideas and feelings. View artists with an her art at her Facebook page at Donna Boisseau Hinson Studio. incubator space to create their art in a dynamic environment. 15 MEET OUR RESIDENT ARTISTS

“Curiosity about life

ANDY in all of its PODBROS CHORKEY & KYRA aspects, NETWORK SARA WILKINS WOJCIK I think, is The Podbros Network has Andy is a practicing musician Kyra is a watercolor painter, been creating and producing on multiple instruments graphic/lettering artist and still the podcasts since 2013. Through including guitar, bass, piano, liturgical artist and designer. As their podcasts, they have been banjo and lap steel guitar. He an artist, her world vision is that has performed with a variety of able to promote and help of beauty, sensuality, spirituality secret musical outfits across the state and form. She earned a Bachelor many of the local creators of and nation, having recorded in of Fine Arts degree from the Downriver Area. When they Nashville with one these groups, of great are not podcasting, they are and here in Michigan with the Wayne State University, Detroit, covering local events, helping others. He is currently working Michigan. She is currently creative charities and organizations, and with two bands composing teaching at Wayne County educating everyone on how to original music, teaching music Community College in the Art listen to podcasts. More on their to beginner and intermediate Department. She also facilitates people.” podcasts can be found on their students of a variety of ages, and therapeutic art sessions at website at www.podbros.com . helping other musicians reach several area nursing homes, and Leo Burnett their goals through promotion curates art shows of resident and encouragement. He wants work. See her work at to help create lasting and kyrawojcik.com. diverse musical performance experiences at the DCA. Sara Wilkins, an artist with a colorful imagination and an avid DIYer, works full time for a local nonprofit organization. An environmentally conscious artist, she upcycles, repurposes and finds new ways to reduce, reuse & recycle in her work! She teaches workshops at the DCA for all ages and skill levels, and recently organized her first successful Urban Gypsy Funk Fair in April of 2018 at the DCA. See what she does on her instagram @thriftyfairtradingcompany. MEET OUR RESIDENT ARTISTS

MARILYN VOSS Poppies in Rain 17 INCOME STATEMENT 2017 HOW THE DCA IS FUNDED Memberships, grants, foundation support, corporate support, sponsorships, TOTAL INCOME fundraisers and special events, gallery sales, an annual giving campaign, classes, $139,280 workshop fees and donations

TOTAL EXPENSES PROGRAMMING $135,482 $61,323

MEMBERSHIPS Thank you for $9,595 your donations

City of Wyandotte: $25,000 FUNDRAISERS The State of Michigan Coucil for the Arts and Cultural Affairs: $12,500

World Heritage Foundation - $10,031 Prechter Family Fund: $3,000 Wyandotte Rotary: $2,500 DONATIONS BASF: $1,000 Joe and Carol Caruso: $1,000 Karen Smithbauer-Wilson: $500 INCOME STATEMENT 2017

THANK YOU for an amazing art center!

A LOT OF HARD WORK HAS GONE INTO MAKING THIS ART CENTER GREAT, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE HOW FAR WE’VE COME! WWW.DOWNRIVERARTS.ORG

ANNUAL REPORT 2018

Designed by Erin Davis Grand Valley State University Internship 2018

Produced with a generous donation from the DCA Board of Directors