Village Arts Factory unveils Michigan Visual Artist Hall of Fame, inducts five artists

Kevin Ryan, community program director at the Village Arts Factory, announced the inaugural Michigan Visual Artist Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Village Theatre at Cherry Hill, inducting five artists whose work the program described as shaping Michigan's visual arts heritage.

Ryan said the Hall of Fame "was created to recognize and celebrate artists whose work has profoundly shaped and enriched our state's cultural landscape," and described it as "more than an honor roll" — "it's a living legacy," he said. The inaugural inductees named were Mary Chase Perry Stratton, Thomas Mickle Burnham, Marshall Maynard Fredericks, Gwen Frostick and Kelly Jean Church.

Ryan provided biographical highlights for each inductee. He described Mary Chase Perry Stratton as the co-founder of Detroit's Pewabic Pottery and credited her iridescent glazes and handcrafted tile for work in Detroit landmarks including the Guardian Building, the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Cathedral Church Of Saint Paul. He noted representatives from Pewabic were on hand to accept the honor on Stratton's behalf.

Ryan said Thomas Mickle Burnham was celebrated for living-history paintings, including First State Election in Detroit, and that Marshall Maynard Fredericks' public monuments — notably the Spirit of Detroit outside the Detroit City-County Building — had come to define much of Michigan's public art. Gwen Frostick was described as a linocut printmaker and entrepreneur who founded Presscraft Papers; Ryan said her studio and shop continue to preserve her legacy. Ryan highlighted Kelly Jean Church as a fifth-generation Anishinaabe basket weaver whose work blends traditional black ash techniques with contemporary materials and who is a 2018 NEA National Heritage Fellow with work held in national collections.

Ryan said the Hall of Fame is located at the Village Arts Factory arts complex and is open most days from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. He framed the induction as part of the site's mission "to preserve Michigan's artistic heritage and inspire future generations of creatives." The program's first induction year included presentations and supporting remarks from local arts leaders and drew representatives from institutions with historical ties to the inductees.

The Hall of Fame announcement accompanies the Canton juried exhibition and award ceremony; Ryan invited attendees to visit the Hall of Fame at the Village Arts Factory and to participate in future programs offered by the organization.