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January 21, 2016
“The garage has turned into a work-
shop for framing,” he said.
The new branding and slogan,
“Atwater Brewery. Born in Detroit.
Raised Everywhere.” will be rolled out
this month, along with the introduction
of three of the new Atwater beers, Going
Steady IPA, Corktown Rye IPA and
Tunnel Ram, an imperial bock.
“Craft brewing is becoming a big busi-
ness but it's a business about good times,”
said Mark Raith, president of Atwater
Brewing. “Now we're focused on making
sure people remember us and think
about us first and that's what these new
labels are intended to do.”
Roko, the first natural-born American
citizen in his family, has been drawing
and painting for as long as he can
remember. His parents immigrated to
Canton Township from a refugee camp
in Rome, after fleeing Albania, and old
world traditions were ingrained in his
family life where English was a second
language.
While Roko's teachers in the
Plymouth-Canton district, where he first
learned to speak English, constantly
encouraged his innate artistic talent, at
19 he gave up his hope for formal art
training and instead followed his par-
ents' version of The American Dream,
and took a job on the assembly line at the
Wayne Assembly Plant on Michigan
Avenue.
His degree of talent did not gowithout
notice, however, and very soon, cowork-
ers, union officials and plant managers
took note of the sketches he would com-
plete during his lunch breaks and asked
him to be a part of a beautification proj-
ect at the plant.
He painted several huge murals using
materials already in the plant like indus-
trial coatings, auto paints, car parts, pal-
lets and other auto-related supplies. The
materials brought a new and lasting life
to his work, created from materials
designed to withstand the harshest of
environments, including the grit and
byproducts in an auto plant.
Other commissions followed and he's
come a long way in the art world, receiv-
ing great critical acclaim. His original
works are now installed on the walls of
serious art collectors across the country.
His work has also been exhibited in sev-
eral one-man shows in prestigious area
galleries during the past fewyears.
He still uses those bright, vivid auto
colors inmany of his creations that main-
tain and evoke an undertone of turmoil
andurban survival.
Roko, in addition to being an official
Ford artist, recently completed commis-
sions for Lady GaGa and Leno, who
called Roko personally to express his
appreciation of Roko's style and work.
Roko's paintings can also be seen in the
permanent collection at the Holocaust
Memorial Center inFarmingtonHills.
He and his two sons, 11 and 13, are
long-timePlymouth residents.
Artist
FROM PAGE 1
Tony Roko designs for some of the new Atwater Brewery beers to be introduced this
month include - Going Steady IPA, a grapefruit session ale that "rocks any situation
while keeping you rock steady," Corktown Rye IPA, a spicy, sweet, bitter aromatic rye
malt with a caramel backbone, and Tunnel Ram, an imperial bock that Atwater calls
"the big block of big bock." Atwater plans a total of 26 of the new beers, each with an
original Roko label.
Theymust be seen to be believed.
That's the verdict of experts from
the Center for Puppetry Arts of Atlanta
about the “magic” of the Cashore
Marionettes coming to the Village
Theater at Cherry Hill. The interna-
tionally acclaimed troupe, under the
hand of master puppeteer Joseph
Cashore, will make two appearances,
one at 2 p.m. and one at 7 p.m. Jan. 23.
The matinee is geared more toward
families and is appropriate for all ages,
according to Canton Arts Coordinator
Jennifer Tobin. The matinee, Simple
Gifts, will include a series of scenes
and portrayals formeveryday life set to
the music of Vivaldi, Strauss,
Beethoven and Copland. Through a
combination of skilled puppetry, music
and theatrical illusion, the original
vignettes presented in “Simple Gifts”
provide a vision of what it is to be
human. Tickets to this performance for
all ages are $12.
In “Life in Motion,” presented at 7
p.m. Jan. 23, Cashore presents his col-
lection of marionette masterworks.
This series of nine vignettes runs the
gamut of emotions from high-spirited
good humor to quiet reflection. This
production is recommended for adults
and children 8 and older. Tickets to
this performance for all ages are $15.
“Cashore's marionettes are intri-
cate, mesmerizing and a lot of fun to
watch,” said Tobin. “We've been trying
for several years to book this interna-
tionally-acclaimed troupe, so we're
thrilled to bring these magical per-
formances toCanton.”
Cashore first became interested in
marionettes at age 11, when he saw
one hanging in a shop window and
asked the clerk if he could try it out.
When that wasn't allowed, he decided
to make one himself, using blocks
wood, clothes pins, and a tin can. He
experienced his first “magical puppet
moment” shortly thereafter while giv-
ing a show for his family, but didn't
make another marionette until years
later, after he had graduated from the
University ofNotreDame.
These internationally acclaimed
performers have entertained audi-
ences in Europe, the Far East and
North America since 1990, including a
stop at the Kennedy Center. Cashore
has received numerous awards for his
artistry, including a 1995 Citation of
Excellence from Union Internationale
de la Marionette USA, the highest
honor an American puppeteer can
receive
Tickets are on sale and can be pur-
chased online at
eater.org or by calling (734) 394-5300.
Additional information is available at
. View
Cashore Marionettes in action at
The Village Theater at Cherry Hill
is located at 50400 Cherry Hill Road in
Canton.
‘Magic’
Puppets appear in Canton
