A stroll through Clare

Last spring I received an email from Kim Gray. Kim is what I might call a bit of a shirt-tail relative. Her husband’s niece, Gloria, is married to my cousin Don. Basically it means we’re not related to each other, but I still think of Kim and her husband, Loren, as family.  I’m always glad to hear from Kim but this email intrigued me. Truth is … I’d been waiting for it.

Keeping track of auction bids.

In 2009 the Pere Marquette District Library in Clare had some extra chairs that were taking up space in their basement. The library teamed up with the Clare County Arts Council and announced a “Spare Chair Fair.” The chairs were distributed to local artists of all ages who turned the simple chairs into wonderful works of art. The chairs were displayed in local businesses for several weeks and were then auctioned off in late September. The proceeds were split between the two organizations ~ it was a win-win situation for everyone.

Window by Michelle Bain

Having talked with Kim earlier in the year, I knew what this year’s “Spare Fair” item was and I had an idea. This year the “spare item” was the old windows from the 4-H Camp in Isabella County. Quite a while back they replaced the windows and the old ones had been taking up room in storage. Now it was time for them to have a new home. (I found out the night of the auction that they had been offered to another organization and luckily they turned them down!)

Window by Darb Bain

During the past 12 months I have taken a drawing class and a photography class. Surely I could come up with something to do with one of those windows. My inner creative juices started flowing. I guess actually you could say they started overflowing. I came up with idea after idea after idea. Finally I decided on a photo that I had taken while at a workshop downstate. The photo is of lush green grass and beautiful green trees along a relaxing pathway.

Then, when it got down to start working on the project …  I knew it wasn’t the right fit for the window. I really wanted to do something “close to home.” I love my small little town where even if you don’t know someone personally, you know who they are, a member of their family or at the very least you know someone they know.

Tracey's new Spare Window

Then I realized what I wanted to do ~ I wanted to take photos from around town. So off I went one evening after work. I shot photo after photo … the water tower, a street sign near my house, the Pioneer Mother, the Doherty Hotel, the Post Office, Cops & Doughnuts, the library, the rail-trail tunnel that goes under the expressway, the 4-mile marker southeast of town, the depot and the Welcome Sign at Big Boy. Since there were only 6 panes in the window, I had to decide which photos I wanted to use. No, I didn’t pick the 6 that I thought were the best. I ended up picking the 6 that I thought fit best together.

A Stroll Through Clare

My dad helped me work on the frame. We stripped it and I repainted it with a metal paint ~ yes on a wood frame. I got the prints made, mounted them and placed them in the frame. I got a backing for it and finally, it was time to return the frame to the library. I even remembered to sign it. What I didn’t think of was a name for it. When I dropped it off Kim fell in love with it. She mentioned that it reminded her of a “stroll through Clare.” Well that was it … the perfect name for my window!

After the windows were placed in the businesses my dad and I went down to see them. We walked downtown looking in the windows. Disagreeing on the ones that we liked. We knew mine was at the Chamber office, but we took our time walking around. I was really proud of my project when I was finished and it was really exciting to see it on display.

Two of my best friends, Tracey Brooks and Laura Strait, went with me to the auction. Another close friend and co-worker and her husband, Michelle and Darb Bain, also went. They both did windows too. While none of us won a prize, we did have a great night! The auction is after the Chamber’s Business After Hours at the Doherty and we went early to enjoy the food plus it’s a great chance to catch up with old friends.

Norman Yoder

At the auction A.J. and Sandy Doherty bought my window. I was especially glad because I know they love Clare as much as I do! Tracey ended up buying a beautiful window that will hang in her house someday soon.

I have worked on similar events and I know how much hard work goes into a project like this so I have to say “hats off” to Kim Gray and Jane Sartor who both worked tirelessly. Thanks also to Norm Yoder who donated his services as auctioneer for the evening. Mid Michigan is full of inspiring artists of all ages. Now I just can’t wait until next year … maybe you’ll decide to get your own creative juices flowing!