Events & Exhibits

2012 Photo Show
February 2–28, 2012 • Absolute Gallery
307 East Grand River Ave, Old Town, Lansing- Click here for the application.

Exhibit Calendar
Fri, Jan 27: Preregistration deadline
Tue, Jan 31: Check-in 11:00 am–4:00 pm at Absolute Gallery, 307 East Grand River Ave, Old Town, Lansing
Sun, Feb 5: Reception Noon–5:00 pm
Tue, Feb 28: Pick up work 11:00 am–4:00 pm at Absolute Gallery

Mystery of MMAG’s Origin Solved... Almost

Thanks to Donna Randall who found a small, black, loose-leaf notebook behind a file cabinet while cleaning out the Guild’s belongings from Scott House last year, we now have a pretty good idea when and how the
Mid Michigan Art Guild began.

Pages one and two of the notebook report the minutes, neatly typed and signed by Dorothy Barnard, of a meeting held at the State [Historical] Museum on June 13, 1951, to organize“a new art group independent
of any former groups.” The new group named itself The Arts and Crafts Society of Lansing. The artists present at that meeting were Harold Hawkins, Chan Laberteaux, Elma Hodges, Thelma Sanford, James
Campbell, Hazen VanPelt and, of course, Dorothy Barnard. When the group met for the second time a week later, Lucile Miner and Rose Hladky were added as members. Among the action items at the second meeting: annual dues were set at $1.00, a minimum age limit was set at 21, and members were prohibited from belonging to any other art group.

The Arts and Crafts Society of Lansing continued to meet at the Historical Museum until November of 1952 when it moved its meetings to the Art and Garden Center, later referred to as the Scott Park Art and Garden Center. Over time, they had art shows in various locations, consumed cookies at monthly meetings and persuaded local arts supply vendors to give discounts to individuals who presented their Society membership cards.

In June of 1954 at the spring annual meeting, the 51 members of the society voted to change its name to the Lansing Art Guild.

The minutes of meetings at the Scott Park Art and Garden Center continue in the little notebook until the meeting of March 16, 1961, and there they end. Could the Lansing Art Guild have subsequently morphed
into the Mid Michigan Art Guild? Well, here are the clues: MMAG held its meetings at the Scott Park Art and Garden Center (aka: Scott House) until just last year. Presenting your membership card at O’Leary’s (formerly Silver Lead) will still get you a discount. Cookies are often served at meetings. And, according to the perpetual calendar, March 16, 1961, fell on, you guessed it, the third Thursday of the month. That makes the 2011–
12 year our 60th—Diamond Jubilee—anniversary.

Call for Artists - Area Opportunities

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Area Workshops

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