Four Finalists Selected for First
Artist-in-Residence Program
at the Historic William E. Scripps Estate: 
Public Workshops to be Offered

LAKE ORION, Mich., -- This July four Michigan artists will be spending two weeks living and working at the William E. Scripps mansion (owned by Guest House Inc), in a new artist-in-residence program.  The competitive event, announced earlier this year, required applicants to propose a body of work that is inspired by the historic site or its famous founder, William E. Scripps of the Detroit News.

William E. Scripps was an early aviator, radio pioneer, auto manufacturer, environmentalist, and also a great patron of architecture and the arts.  Many fine examples of American arts and crafts survive at the estate in metalwork, stone, stained glass, and painted finishes, making the mansion an ideal place to inspire working artists.  “We wanted to establish the residencies to bring Michigan artists and our historic site together,” said Leslie Pielack, Executive Director and curator of the Scripps Estate.  “The art will then be placed on exhibit and made accessible to the public later this summer and fall.” 

Resident artists will be provided room, board and work space in the quiet and peaceful setting of the mansion.  In return, each artist will donate a major piece from the project back to the estate.  It is anticipated that the summer program will be offered annually in the future.  This year’s program is supported in parts by a minigrant from the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs and the Oakland County Office of Arts, Culture, & Film.

This year’s finalists are from the greater Detroit area and work in varied media.  Joan Farago of Grosse Pointe Park will combine painting and off-press printmaking to create her pieces; Victor Pytko of Birmingham will use acrylic and mixed media; academy award nominee filmmaker Gary Schwartz will work with traditional camera obscura and stop-motion animation to create a site-inspired film; and Gayle Vandercook of Lapeer will work with pencils and airbrush markers to create collage works.

The residency period is July 6 to July 20, 2009.  Midway through the two week residency, on Saturday, July 11 each artist will conduct a half day workshop from 10 am to 1 pm.  Participants will have the choice of four low-cost workshops in which to explore the unique approaches offered by these professional artists.   More Info-Workshop Brochure >

• Joan Farago will present “Off-Press Printmaking,” incorporating the traditional techniques of moku hanga (Japanese printmaking) and monoprints to capture visual impressions of the estate’s grounds and landscape.  Materials will be provided.
• Victor Pytko will present “Digital Projection in Composition,” using digital images from the estate to establish compositional features on the canvas, followed by moving to the actual setting out of doors to lay in color and complete the piece.  Participants should bring their own materials (except oils).
• “Collage Drawing with Markers” will be Gayle Vandercook’s topic, emphasizing the use of pencils and markers to create captivating collages inspired by various details found at the site to give full meaning to participants’ chosen subject matter.  (Participants will be informed of materials required at registration.)
• Gary Schwartz will present “Intensive Hands-on Stop-motion Animation,” which utilizes pixilation (a stop-motion technique in which objects & people are photographed frame by frame to create unusual effects).  Participants will explore this exciting medium at the historic site and produce a short animated piece. (No materials or previous experience required.)

The cost for each workshop is $30 (adults—ages 12+), $15 for seniors.  Friends of the William E. Scripps Estate receive a $5 discount.  Pre-registration is required by calling 248-391-4445, ext. 1100.  Deadline for registration is July 8; space is limited.

The William E. Scripps Artist in Residence program is supported by Guest House, Inc., and is partly funded by the Michigan Council for the Arts and the Oakland County Office of Arts, Culture & Film.  Guest House, Inc., is a private, not-for-profit, corporation that has operated a residential treatment center at the site for Catholic clergy suffering from alcoholism and other addictions since the 1950s. In 2007, a new treatment center was built on the grounds making the 1927 mansion more available for public tours and private events.  The house and grounds are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as nationally significant because of the outstanding architecture and landscape as well as the site’s association with the famous William E. Scripps.

For more information, contact Leslie Pielack at 248-391-4445, ext. 1100

Marker Dedicated at the Estate, May 16, 2009

May 16, 2009—A public celebration of the first National Register Listed site to receive a historical marker in Orion Township took place on Saturday, May 16.  Joining Dan Kidd, President and CEO of Guest House, Inc., the Friends of the William E. Scripps Estate, and the Orion Historical Society, were Jack Dempsey of the State of Michigan Historical Commission, Mike Gingell, Oakland County Commissioner, Matt Gibb, Orion Township Supervisor, Dennis King, President and CEO of Harley Ellis Devereaux, and Andrea Ordakowski of the Orion Historical Society.  The two-sided marker is located at a site accessible by the general public just east of Joslyn Road on Scripps Road.  It contains information about William E. Scripps, Nina Downey Scripps, the founding of Wildwood Farm, and the building of this jewel of residential and landscape architecture. Read the remarks of Jack Dempsey and Dennis King >

Collections Work Initiated on Vintage Volumes from Scripps Family Library

June 2009—Library professional Lois Duerk has begun the process of examination, inventory, and cataloguing a group of books that were originally part of the Scripps family’s personal library.  Although the most impressive volumes were donated after Scripps’ death in the 1950s to the Detroit Public Library, the estate still has some texts with historic character, worthy of a bit of special attention.  By formally cataloguing the book collection, the estate may be able to successfully seek additional grant funding for the project. 

The William E. Scripps Estate Now on Facebook!  

June 2009—We can now be found on Facebook!  Give us a try and add us to your Friends list. 

Bryant Fleming Fountain Pool Project Up and “Running”
June, 2009—The final phase of the restoration of the Bryant Fleming garden and Samuel Yellin gate is now complete!  The original bronze sculpture presides over the large bowl and basin below.  Plans for later this summer include introducing koi and historically appropriate aquatic plants (water lilies).  This historic garden area is flanked by the fountain and the beautifully restored Samuel Yellin gate.  It also boasts a built in stone bench designed by Fleming to take in the beauty of the fountain and the peacefulness of the pine backdrops.
The restored garden lends itself to multiple uses, including public performances, poetry readings, wedding ceremonies, outdoor field site workshops, and the like. 

SEASONS of SCRIPPS Friends Newsletter

November 2008—packed with information. To download a copy of the newsletter, click here>