A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
September 29, 2011
C
ANTON
- P
LYMOUTH
Local artists’ work
shown at capitol
McDermott returns to Canton
Gandhi celebration set
Members of the the Plymouth Community
Arts Council will lead the exhibit schedule for
Speaker of the House Pro-Tempore John
Walsh's Art in theCapitol program.
The program includes a series of rotating
art exhibits inside the Capitol building in
Lansing which showcase artists fromwestern
Wayne County. The chosen arts organizations
send original pieces from their own local
artists to represent their group. The art is
exhibited for about 12 weeks throughout
Walsh's' Capitol office, which is open to
tourists and special visitors. Signage in the
common area recognizes the artists and the
organization they represent.
Chosen to represent the Plymouth
Community Arts Council were Kay Masini,
Plymouth artist and a member of the arts
council board of directors, artist Pam
Grossmann who is also an instructor for both
the children's and adult drop-in art classes at
the arts council and Denise Cassidy, a
Plymouth resident who also serves on the arts
council exhibit committee.
“The Art in the Capitol program was
implemented at no cost to the taxpayer, but
with many goals in mind,” according to
ValerieKnol, a legislative aide toWalsh.
The trio from Plymouth all agreed that
having their artwork exhibited in Lansing
was truly a privilege.
“I was speechless when I saw my mixed
media piece Neighborhood Watch hanging
over Rep. Walsh's desk,” said Grossmann. “It's
a pen-and-ink drawing of Livonia City Hall
with all the American flags flying in front of it,
just after 9/11. I superimposed the American
flag and eagle over this image in watercolor.
Walsh is from Livonia, and I was happy I sub-
mitted that painting for the show.”
Masini was unable to make the trip to
Lansing for the reception, but said she was
honored to be one of the artists chosen to lead
off this important program.
The 18-monthexhibit was designed to last
through the end of Walsh's current term.
International recording artist Michael
McDermott will return to the Village Theater
at Cherry Hill for one night only at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 1. Tickets are $15 each.
Groups of 15 ormore are $13 each.
McDermott is considered to be one of the
greatest songwriters of his generation. The
Chicago Sun Times declared McDermott's
release Hey La Hey is "definitely one of this
Chicago singer-songwriter-musician's most
potent albums." American Country Magazine
recently said McDermott is "the kind of
raconteur writer who is so connected with
himself that he can reach right through the
speakers andpunch you in theheart."
This Chicago-based artist has also head-
lined on nationally syndicated radio pro-
grams World Café, Acoustic Café, Woodsongs
and Studio C. He's also shared the stage with
artists ranging from Van Morrison, Aimee
Mann, Seal, The Wallflowers, among many
others.
Author Stephen King has declared
"Michael McDermott is probably the greatest
undiscovered rock 'n' roll talent of the last 20
years"
Tickets for McDermott's concert, which
features opening act Jill Jack, are available
at Cantonvillagetheater.org or by calling (734)
394-5300.
A special Gandhi Jayanti Celebration will
begin at 2 p.m. Oct. 2 at The Village Theater at
CherryHill. Doors are set to open at 1:15 p.m.
This popular annual event is presentedby the
Canton Cultural Commission Multicultural
Committee in association with The Village
Theater, located at 50400CherryHill Road.
This special presentation honors the life
and legacy of MahatmaGandhi by celebrating
the values that he lived every day.
"In a gentle way, you can shake the world,"
said Mahatma Gandhi. Canton Township
TrusteeDr. SyedTaj will provide the program
welcome and introduction to an afternoon of
songs, dances, sitar, and a skit. The program
will also feature members of the
Multicultural Committee speaking about
Gandhi's life and legacy.
The Canton Cultural Commission
Multicultural Committee's mission continues
to focus on getting to know neighbors and
their culture through the arts. This diverse
group of volunteers has presented numerous
cultural offerings throughout the community
and participates each year at Canton's Liberty
Fest by hosting and presenting an
International Stage area featuring perform-
ances, displays, activities. In addition to
Gandhi Jayanti, subcommittees continue to
host many special events, including: an
International Festival annual event at The
Village Theater on Jan. 21, and a celebration
of Dr. MartinLutherKing, Jr. on Jan. 16.
Admission to this Gandhi Jayanti
Celebration is a $2 donation at the door and
includes a punch and cookies pre-show
reception starting at 1:15 p.m.
For more information on "Gandhi Jayanti"
and other upcoming cultural events and per-
formances at The Village Theater, visit
Cantonvillagetheater.org or call (734) 394-
5300.
It's official
Plymouth Mayor Dan Dwyer, right, his wife, Shaun, and City Commissioner John
Barrett officially opened the Octoberfest celebration at E.G. Nick's last Friday with the
ceremonial tapping of the first keg of two new Samuel Adams beers. Jessica
Rougeau, a Samuel Adams district manager and brewmaster, introduced both Maple
Porter and Oak-Aged Ale at the event and allowed visitors to sample each of the new
beers and vote on their favorite. Samuel Adams remains the largest American-owned
brewery, she said, and the results of the voting would be determine which beer the
company features as a special fall flavor.
Photo by Dave Willett