People looking for ways to capture their memories can find all their paper crafting supplies at Altered Art Addicts.  The company is owned by a mother-daughter team who have worked to provide their customers with unique supplies that are not available at big box stores.

The store opened in 2011 and specializes in finding products that meet their customers individual needs.  Crafters can enjoy a variety of classes and participate in crops at the store.
Featured brands include Earth Art International, Little Miss Muffet, Vintage Street Market, Jenni Bowlin, Unity Stamp Company, Graphic 45, Fancy Pants and TJ Designs.  In addition to standard paper crafting supplies, customers can order custom paper die cuts, wood signs and lithophanes.

The Armory Arts Village is a one-of-a-kind, creatively focused, mixed use neighborhood.  An affordable space designed to meet both the living & workspace needs of emerging artists, musicians, designers, craftsmen, and other creative people. Armory Arts Village is listed on MSN in the top ten most unique buildings worldwide in which to live. 

This was the original site of Michigan's first state prison, approved by the legislature in 1838. A temporary wooden prison, enclosed by a fence of tamarack poles, was built on sixty acres donated for that purpose here. In 1839 the first thirty-five prisoners were received. A permanent prison was built three years later. Beginning in the 1880's under Warden H. F. Hatch a greater emphasis was placed on the education and rehabilitation of prisoners. After 1934 the inmates were housed in the new prison north of Jackson.

Jackson's Historic Prison Tour now begins at Michigan Theatre. Click here to learn more.

The spirit has no limitations, so there is no limit to the types of creativity birthed and practiced at Art 634.  Music, dance, photography, painting, sculpture, jewelry, pottery and theater are all celebrated within the walls of ART 634.  Art 634 is proud to call an 1850's manufacturing facility home.  It was originally built as a wagon and carriage factory, adjacent to the Michigan Territorial Prison.  The location afforded an abundance of workers and reasonable labor rates for factory. Over the years it has been used for warehousing, trucking operations. and numerous illicit and illegal activities.  It was spared from a 1950's fire that burned the building to the south on Mechanic, but the rear portion suffered damage.  Today it has been reborn as an industry of creativity.

The Art 634 logo incorporates the building's long history.  The circle of leaves represents the wagon wheel, fashioned out of leaves from the historical ginkgo tree directly to our east on Mechanic. Hence the name - Art 634, Center for the Creative Spirit.  The creative spirit has no limitations.

Special event every second Sunday of every month 12-4.  Art, music, wine, food and camaraderie – shop for all your gift needs for the coming month. Also don't miss the annual Fairy Festival in April which fills the building with magic and fun for the whole family.

Art 634 has two unique rooms available for rent:  

• ART 634 Classroom: Do you like to teach but lack the space and artistic atmosphere? Rent the ART 634 Classroom for $15 an hour and we’ll even help promote it. Text 517-745-3980.
• ART 634 Back Gallery Space: Offering a unique atmosphere for exhibits. Text 517-745-3980.

ART 634 Tenants

• BoKay Studios
• Circle of Stones
• Copper Orchid Design
• Cuppa
• Essa Arts
• Gallery 634 (Available to rent)
• Hair 634
• Hazelle M. Designs
• Jackson Arts and Cultural Alliance
• Jackson School of the Arts
• Maggie Drew Designs & Holey Altered
• Practical Guitar, Mike Crupi
• Regalitos
• Studio Deeply Art
• The Music Institute 
• The Old Prison Gift Shop
• Wendy Lebel Photography

Opening February 8, 2013! Some of the things you will find at Beads to Live By: Creative Space, Beads, Findings, Tools, Thread, Wire, Patterns, Expert Color Advice, Costume/Beaded-Jewelry Repair, Trunk Shows, Classes and Parties!

Bo-kay Studios is where art is made, art from the heart.  Betty's Studio and Gallery is the showcase of Artist Betty Kay Renegar Price. Betty Kay Renegar Price is the Artist in residence along with Kenny Price ( the studio photographer). Betty has a background and schooling in Sculpture, Stone Carving, Clay, and paint.  Focusing on works in a series in acrylic and mixed media to form colorful works of art to lift the spirit of the viewer. Betty offers classes, and displays her artwork as well as Kenny's photographs.

In 1901 Andrew Carnegie donated $70,000 for the construction of a library building in the city of Jackson. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the State of Michigan Register of Historic Sites, this Neo-Classical style building was designed and built in 1906. The facility features inlaid terrazzo floors, intricate ceiling moldings, Carrara white marble staircase and numerous pieces of art. The Carnegie building became the main branch for the newly created district in 1978. In 1981, with a bequest from Mrs. Mable MinterVan Orman, a circular structure was built at the rear of the library. This added an elevator, history room, back lobby and a children's storytelling room. There are 13 library locations in Jackson County. In addition to the library services and collections, the library has numerous programs offered at all of the branches throughout the year. These programs cover a wide range of interests and ages. Most programs and services are provided by the library free of charge. The building is graced with an outdoor public sculpture a parent and child reading and was created by famed sculptor Freeman Schoolcraft, Jackson High School graduate.

The Child, The Parent, and The Book, by Freeman L. Schoolcraft, bronze and limestone, 1988, Jackson District Library/Carnegie Branch, Michigan Ave.

Freeman Schoolcraft's The Child, The Parent, and The Book sits beside the main entrance to the Jackson District Library welcoming patrons while celebrating the right to read and symbolizing the value of parents and children learning and growing together.

Schoolcraft's life-size bronze statuary exhibits smooth surfaces and a light green finish over a darker undercoat, giving the sculpture and its pedestal an antique appearance despite its young age. Whereas Hunt's Victory Reconstructed is abstract and only suggestive of a figure in motion, Schoolcraft's woman and child are realistic, although not as detailed as the figures of Frishmuth, Hibbard, or Taft's Defense of the Flag. In fact, the figurative forms are simplified and generalized rather like the figure on the Foote Memorial by Taft, Schoolcraft's teacher.

When Taft attended the dedication of the Foote Memorial he met Schoolcraft, who was to graduate from Jackson High School the following year. The young artist showed the renowned sculptor some of his work and was invited to apprentice with the master in Chicago. He himself then taught at the Art Institute of Chicago, the University of Chicago, and Northwestern University. His sculpture adorns numerous buildings in and around Chicago and is in the collections of the Art Institute and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.

Even though a heart attack in 1964 effectively ended his career in sculpture, David Leamon, director of the Jackson District Library, wrote to Schoolcraft in 1982 to see if he would make a sculpture for his hometown library. The sculptor undertook the project enthusiastically and completed a small clay model, shortly before his death in 1988. Schoolcraft's widow, Clara made a more permanent plaster cast from the clay model about a year later. A grassroots fundraising effort to raise the $60,000 needed to create the full bronze statue along with grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts and the Michigan Sesquicentennial Commission was completed.

In late October 1987, the full sized bronze statue was created at the Pappas Art Foundry in Ypsilanti Michigan.  The production process was not unlike that employed to model, mold, and cast the older bronze sculptures in Jackson. The "lost wax" bronze casting technique used by the ancient Greeks is essentially the same today as it was two and a half millennia ago, though technical innovations have improved the furnaces and materials used in the process.

Center Stage Jackson is Jackson’s community theatre group.  Formed in 2001 when Jackson Civic Theatre and Clark Lake Players merged, Center Stage Jackson is a non-profit production company dedicated to presenting quality theatrical productions in the Greater Jackson, Michigan area, performing at Jackson Community College, a proud sponsor of CSJ, located at 2111 Emmons Road, Jackson, Michigan, and other venues in the Jackson area. Blog: http://centerstagejackson.blogspot.com/

Over 30+ years experience in interior design, both residential and commercial ... Including:  carpet, tile, wood floor, wallpaper, paint, window treatments, drapes, design consultation and much, much more. Call us for an appointment at our Studio Showroom located in Art 634, at 634 North Mechanic, Jackson, Michigan.
Connie Kay Williams, IDS   (517)  745-8811
Tucker Ann Williams, IDS  (517)  262-2955
Mailing Address: 902 Oakridge Drive, Jackson, Michigan 49203-3844  Phone: (517)  782-1010

The gallery features art images from a rarely seen perspective; during his 47-year-career Dale has worked exclusively from a helicopter. His powerful, breathtaking pieces are not only framed as fine art but are also used for advertisements, brochures, public relations, and many other forms. Dale Fisher has been perfecting his art of taking images from a helicopter for over 53 years. He has an extensive inventory of art from the states of Michigan, Hawaii, Arizona and New York and includes wildlife, nautical, landscape images for all four seasons. A brief display of Dale's art may be found on his website at www.dalefishephoto.com.

Although the main function of the Dale Fisher Galleries is an art, photography and framing center, it doubles as a convention and reception hall that can accommodate up to 250 people. The convention center has dramatic lighting, catering kitchen, restrooms, heat and air conditioning. It is situated on the 100-acre Eyry of the Eagle Campus which house three art galleries, state of the art photography lab, framing center and animal viewing zoo. It is also home to the Michigan Center for the Photographic Arts, a non-profit 501(3)(c) organization that's main focus is to unleash the creative spirit in children through the art of photography. Each year the Children's Mentorship Program features the photographic art of the students during the annual Fall Focus Festival, which takes place the 3rd weekend in September at the center. 

Meeting Facility: http://www.eyryoftheeagle.com/

The Eyry of the Eagle Farm is a special place for special occasions. Enjoy the peaceful wooded areas, fields and 3-acre pond. A beautiful site for wedding receptions and company meetings, the Eyry of the Eagle Farm has a modern reception hall, wedding pergola, catering kitchens, and a charming 125-year old restored barn. Located in Grass Lake, Michigan just west of Ann Arbor.

The reception center is perfect for:

• Weddings
• Business meetings
• Company picnics
• Family picnics
• Class reunions

Amenities include:

• Wings Gallery Reception Hall, over 5000 square feet with 40'x64' meeting/dining room,
• air conditioning
• warming kitchen
• entry room
• bride's changing room
• 125-year-old barn, the Eagle's Nest Gallery
• large pond
• wedding ceremony pergola with brick walkway
• many flower gardens
• wooded areas
• ball field
• decorated with the photographic art of Dale Fisher

Contact the Eyry of the Eagle Farm to learn more about the availability of the reception facilities for your next event!

In 1912, Ella Sharp’s farm and home were willed to Jackson for the creation of a park and museum, which opened in 1965. The Ella Sharp Museum features an 1860’s log cabin, the Dibble one-room schoolhouse, country store, print shop, doctor’s office, woodshop and the Merriman Sharp Farmhouse.  The Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History also houses six galleries including the Andrews Gallery of Wildlife Art, the Jackson History Gallery, a clock gallery and three galleries featuring traveling and “in house” exhibitions. Thousands of visitors are drawn each year for the Ella’s major festivals Sugaring & Shearing (spring), Art, Beer & Wine Festival (summer) and Fall Harvest Festival (fall).

Admission to the galleries is free every Saturday.

The Grand Community Room at the Ella Sharp Museum of Art & History is the perfect place for your next grand event. The 3,000-square-foot room features an outdoor patio, catering kitchen, and stage to accommodate a wide variety of uses. A huge, arched window looks out onto the surrounding park and a mid-19th century log house.
   

• Reunions
• Holiday parties
• Weddings
• Seminars
• Annual meetings
• Award ceremonies
• Galas
• Graduation parties
• Rehearsals
• Staff meetings
• Luncheons and banquets
• Dramatic presentations

Essa Arts was created to promote, celebrate and share the art of Sheryl Amburgey and her family. Essa stands for Edith, Sheryl, Sophia, and Ava - Sheryl and the important women of her life.
"As a child, the memory of opening my first box of crayons, "Sheryl says, "began my passion and obsession for art. The smells of the fresh crayons were unforgettable. The feel of the sharp points hitting the smooth surfaces were mesmerizing. At that moment, I was hooked!"

Essa Arts offers classes for grades 1st - 4th and 5th - 9th, as well as Artsy Gourmet Parties for ages 14 and up. Learn the elements & principles of art while you paint, mix colors and have fun. Students will be introduced to a variety of brushes and how they work. Each Art workshop includes step-by-step instruction, all supplies and a light snack. 

Ganton Art Gallery on the campus of Spring Arbor University is the largest single-space gallery in southern Michigan at 7,100 square feet. Annually, the facility houses a variety of student and professional art shows including regional and national art competitions. The Ganton Art Gallery is free and open to the public. It is open seven days a week except for university holidays and when main campus classes are not in session. There are approximately six exhibits a year. Please call if you have questions.

Located within ART 634, Hazelle M. Designs is a unique retail store devoted to visual art, jewelry and gifts. With an artists spirit and creativity, their goal is to inspire the artist within you! Hazelle M. is a great place to shop! Art classes also available. Shop Local!  Est.2008

shop online: www.hazellem.com
email: suzanne@hazellem.com
blog: www.hazellem.blogspot.com

This 2,000 square foot showroom is brimming with unique home furnishings and home decor items.  They also offer many unique gift ideas.  Throughout the gallery, you will be amazed at the talented artwork of numerous local and national artists in a variety of mediums, including pastel, oil, acrylic, ceramic, glass, and textile art.  Local artwork featured includes handmade, one-of-a-kind items such as dolls, purses, hats, handbags, scarves, jewelry, mirrors, painted furniture, and much more. The ambiance of our showroom is primarily upscale contemporary with a flair for unique, funky, and whimsical.  For the more traditional tastes, we exhibit an eclectic mix of traditional and chic merchandise. 

Our mission is to provide young people access to arts education.  An important part of any education, learning in the arts builds strong self-awareness and self-esteem and promotes critical thinking. Programs include the Annual Fairy Festival, Birthday Parties, Girl Scout workshops and classes for adults as well.
The Jackson School of the Arts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making the arts accessible and affordable to youth in South Central Michigan.  We offer after school programs in dance, theater and art at our site on on the second floor of the Art634 building, 634 N. Mechanic Street and throughout the community.

The Jackson Symphony Orchestra has a rich and vibrant history serving the Jackson area for over 60 years. Our mission is to add value, joy and enrichment to the lives of all Jackson area residents through music. The Jackson Symphony strives to impact the lives of everyone in the community either directly through performances and education programs or indirectly by offering positive programs and arts support in collaboration with community agencies, educators and other arts organizations. Most JSO series concerts are held at Jackson Community College’s world-class Music Hall at the Potter Center. Other music events are often held at Jackson Symphony Orchestra Performing Arts Center at 215 W. Michigan Ave. This facility is also available for rental with a capacity of 300.

The JYSO is a full symphonic orchestra based in Jackson, Michigan. The orchestra performs pieces from the standard classical repertoire along with modern works and “pops” pieces. Our season runs from September to May, with concert performances four times each season. We rehearse on Sunday afternoons at the Jackson Symphony Orchestra Hall in downtown Jackson. About our Conductor: David Schultz. The JYSO is open to high school aged and younger musicians from Jackson and the surrounding area. 

K. Price Photos is a full service Photo studio located in the historic ART634 building at 634 N. Mechanic in Jackson Michigan.  We offer High School  Senior Portraits and Prom Portraits.  We also offer Family and Children portraits.  Portraits can be taken in the studio using Green Screen technology, taken around ART634 or at a location of your choice.  We also offer QUICKIE Business Headshots.    K. Price Photos  has a selection of Nature, Wildlife, Birds, Michigan, Texas,  and Grand River Framed photos and prints. Different sizes are available.  You can take home a framed photo with you or we can reprint in a size you desire.  We are willing to take on assignment photo when feasible.

Maggie Drew, the micro business run by Margaret Riggle specializes in handpainted silk, batik and experimental dye processes for garments, accessories and interior accents.  The end results run the gamut from stunning elegance to quirky fun! Her scarves are wonderful gifts, and her garments make one of a kind statements.  Margaret believes that women should never be uncomfortable in the clothing they choose and her wraps, scarves, tunics and jackets can be layered over relaxed clothing for an upscale look with loungewear comfort.

holey altered is a very small clothing and accessory design company. Focusing on one of a kind designs, and using only recycled materials. Bringing new life, and new perspective to fashion. Follow holey altered on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HoleyAltered or follow her blog at http://holeyaltered.blogspot.com/.

Make It Yours! Paint Your Own Pottery and Gift Studio is a magical place where friends and family gather to make lasting memories together.

The Michigan Theatre was the last and largest theater to be built in downtown Jackson, opening in 1930. Now a nonprofit organization, the Michigan Theatre of Jackson Inc., is working to restore the theater to its original luster. It was originally built in Spanish Renaissance style with an ornate polychrome terra cotta façade, carved walnut furniture, plush carpeting, heavy damask draperies, and stained-glass light fixtures. The Michigan Theatre is considered one of the most splendid theaters in the state. Their mission is to provide today's entertainment in an incredible historic venue. Events include kids movies and classic films, as well as live entertainment.

Come join us at Brooklyn's Live theater and be a part of the action!  Take classes to perfect your craft and then let it shine on the stage in our season of entertaining plays and musicals.  Please view our website to learn all we have to offer.  We always have something fun and exciting going on!

Founded in 1843, Mt. Evergreen is the City of Jackson’s oldest cemetery. Originally consisting of 11 acres in 1843 and expanded to its now 25 acres in 1863. Morrell Street was moved north a year later to produce an area dedicated for the burial of soldiers. To this day, the annual Memorial Day parade ends at Mt. Evergreen’s Soldier Field.
The Greenwood Wall was built in 1873, and was rebuilt more than a century later in 1980, using all original stones. The outside fence that surrounds the cemetery was a generous donation of the Reynolds family, who also completed the installation. All interment records, prior to 1917, were destroyed by a massive fire. Any records of those years were recreated from headstones.
Mt. Evergreen Cemetery was listed in the State Register of Historic Sites in 1988. The cemetery contains not one but two famous sculptures memorializing the dead.

Laura Evans Memorial also known as Civil War Soldiers Monument, by Frederick Hibbard, bronze and granite, 1916

Jackson holds the honor of mustering the first volunteer regiment of Civil War soldiers in the state, and lost over 3,200 men. Thus it is appropriate, that a town the size of Jackson should have a second Civil War memorial, after Defense of the Flag, located amid the graves of those who made the supreme sacrifice. A half-century after the war, Laura Evans established a trust in her will to fund a monument to the soldiers buried in Mt. Evergreen Cemetery in memory of her father, mother, and husband.
Frederick C. Hibbard, a Chicago sculptor who studied under Lorado Taft (sculptor of Defense of the Flag and the William A. Foote Memorial), created the memorial inscribed with its patron's name. As with Taft's Defense, Hibbard presents us with a three-figure composition, but two of Hibbard's figures are in relief and the other, a soldier is three dimensional. The soldier holds his rifle by his side and vigilantly peers into the distance. Behind him a male and a female figure are depicted in bas relief. The man holds his hat over his heart and bows his head. The woman is beautiful and full-bodied, with long, flowing hair and a classical gown.
Might these be portraits of Laura Evans' mother and father? If so, does the soldier depict Evans' young husband? Documentation has not been found, but the explanation is possible. For now it is enough to recognize the powerful emotions conveyed by the faces of the older man and woman as the young warrior strides bravely off to do his duty, unknown to all whether he will live or die.

Sparks Memorial also known as Roses of Yesterday, by Harriet Frishmuth, bronze and granite, copyright 1923

Mt. Evergreen Cemetery can point with pride to the Sparks Memorial, a commemorative bronze female figure, smaller scale than Taft’s Foote Memorial, but just as poignant and emotional. The statue marks the graves of several members of the Sparks family -- a prominent local family that left its mark on the community most noticeably through the donation of Cascades Park, originally known as Sparks Foundation County Park.
The demure young woman smells a bouquet of roses she holds. Illustrations of the original model show the woman once held a sundial in her left hand, which is now missing. Thus the sculpture reminds to stop and smell the roses as our time on earth is short. This is further demonstrated by the title given to the sculpture by the artist, Roses of Yesterday. A bronze casts of this sculpture can be found in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.
Harriet Frishmuth (1880-1980) created dozens of delicate maidens similar to that on the Sparks Memorial during her long and productive career for which she earned numerous awards in the first two decades of the 20th century.

For more information on the public sculpture of Jackson visit the Ella Sharp Museum at http://www.ellasharp.org/our-outdoor-sculpture.html.

More than 150 cultural events are showcased annually in the Potter Center, including Broadway productions, national and international touring shows, local community groups, in-school productions and visiting performers. The Potter Center houses three theaters: Ruth M. Day Theatre, Michael Baughman Theater and the Harold V. Sheffer Music Hall. The campus complex has enjoyed national attention after more than 30 years of welcoming familiar stars and outstanding productions to the campus. A great public outdoor sculpture, Victory Reconstructed, can be seen from the top floors of the building.

The Hugh Federer Rooms

The Federer Rooms are a complex of seminar & meeting rooms that are centrally located on the first floor of Potter Center. These rooms provide ideal facilities for the accommodation of meetings, seminars, luncheons, displays, lectures, films, teleconferences, PowerPoint presentations, special events, etc. The Federer Rooms have the capability of being subdivided, with acoustically controlled folding wall panels, in various multiples from three separate rooms to one large room. As a result, seating can be adjusted from 40 persons to 200 people. Food arrangements are made through Continental Services Catering at 517.783.1521. For more information on the Federer Rooms, please contact the Cultural Affairs Office at 517.796.8473.

Michael Baughman Theatre

The Baughman Theatre, in a combination of conventional and continental seating patterns, seats a total of 403 persons, including 10 wheelchair spaces. Support facilities include a total of four dressing rooms, fully equipped costume and scene shops, and a formative dance studio with special flooring, mirrored walls and dance bars.

Harold Sheffer Music Hall

This spacious grand concert hall/theatre seats 1,549 patrons, including 20 wheelchair patrons. There are 1,046 seats plus the wheelchair spaces on the lower or Orchestra Level, while the balcony, or Grand Tier, contains 483 seats. On occasion, 37 additional seats can be placed on the orchestra lift, at audience level, for a maximum total of 1,586 seats. Each level contains outer lobbies which afford striking views of the Potter Center Complex. Also included in the theatre is a complete rehearsal room equipped with a dance floor, mirrored walls and an outstanding environment for dance and music programs and classes.  Finally, for the performing artists, the Music Hall houses a total of seven dressing rooms - five for Chorus, two for "Stars," crew dressing rooms and facilities and a canteen and laundry for traveling artists. The "Star" dressing room is carpeted with a sofa and casual chairs. There are also phone lines available for calls, faxes and computer hook-up for the artists or their managers' use.

Ruth Day Theatre

 The Ruth M. Day Theatre is a multiple form, experimental theatre. By incorporating fixed seating on eight movable units, the theatre can be fashioned into four standard staging configurations: Arena, Thrust, Center Aisle and Proscenium. The seating capacity of Day Theatre varies according to the presentation style, but generally seats 104, 126, 168 or 184 persons.

Robert Snyder Dining Room

Located on the first floor of Potter Center is the Robert Snyder Dining Room which can comfortably accommodate 300-350 person. Recently renovated, this is an excellent facility for wedding receptions, banquets and other special events. Food service arrangements are made through the catering service on campus, Continental Services. They offer a complete line of menus ranging from hors d'oeuvre receptions to buffets to sit-down dinners. Managers may be reached at 517.783.1521 or by e-mail at JCC_FoodServices@jccmi.edu. Reservations can be made up to a year in advance. For more information on the Dining Room, please contact the Cultural Affairs Office at 517.796.8473.

Victory Reconstructed, by Richard Hunt, corten steel, 1995, Jackson Community College

Victory Reconstructed, much like Summer Night Tree, is an abstract and non-representational sculpture fabricated in Michigan at K & M Machine Fabricating in Cassopolis, where many works by Hunt and other contemporary sculptors are enlarged.

Hunt's work is in many important public and private collections across the United States and it has even been included in a temporary exhibition on the lawn of the White House in Washington. Like many of Hunt’s statuary, Victory Reconstruction is based on figures of the ancient Greek goddess of victory, Nike. The abstract construction for Jackson Community College is larger and more simplified than his earlier work. The sculpture fits nicely into its setting and people are able to see it from several different levels, from the ground as well as from the top floors of the Potter Center for the Performing Arts.

Surrounded by many creative artists, Regalitos Quilting Arts has flourished at ART 634. The building has a historical beauty that makes each visit an experience. Longarm and free form quilting available Classes are offered fro every skill level from beginner to advanced. Visit this unique shop today!

St. Demetrius Church, purchased for $1.00 in 1960, was originally built as a one-room schoolhouse.  Today the structure is something altogether different.  Still set in a rural area resonating with the peace of nature, the colorful interior of St. Demetrius contrasts with the more pastoral colors of its surroundings. The interior walls and ceilings are covered with brightly colored paintings called frescos. In addition, individual Icons are held in place by a 33-foot long hand carved wooden wall of icons called a “Iconostasis.”

On this engaging tour, you experience how our world-renown Iconographer, Niculai Enochi, uses an authentic Byzantine method of painting to adorn our exquisite church – a church equal to any you can see in Europe – and it is right here in Jackson!  The Orthodox tradition of Iconography, often called “Windows to Heaven,” originated about 1800 years ago. This Iconography, through its vivid visual depictions, truly brings the stories of the Bible to life.

The artistic, historical and personalized tour is given by Father Dusan, a delightful master of presentation.  

After experiencing the beautiful Icons and their intriguing history, you will thoroughly enjoy sitting in our beautiful dining area as you drink a cup of coffee with the very special treat of our famous, unforgettably delicious homemade Baklava baked by the Baklava Bakers of the Sisterhood of St. Demetrius Church.

Personal tours require 10 or more people and are $12.00 a person.

For more information please call Monica Dellas (517-414-3829) & (517-569-2982) or the Church (517-784-0116).

In 1880, Bishop Casper Henry Borgess of the Detroit Diocese, approved the establishment of a second Catholic parish in the city of Jackson. On June 14, 1881, Robert Lake was contracted to build a new church.  It was to be a Gothic style brick building with the steeple rising 180 feet.  The cornerstone was laid July 4, 1881.  The building would seat six hundred people and the cost was just over $30,000.  Within 20 years, the first church had become inadequate in size.  Admission cards were issued to parishioners for Mass attendance.

In 1910, plans were announced for a new church, and the pastor and church trustees traveled to Europe, viewing some of the most beautiful cathedrals.  Building plans were delayed by World War I, but finally on Sunday, September 23, 1923, the cornerstone was laid.  The basement was ready and used for Midnight Mass on Christmas, 1923.  However, a prolonged strike in the limestone industry delayed progress and it was not completed until 1926.  On May 31, 1926, Bishop Joseph C. Plagens officiated at the dedication.  The cost of the new church was approximately $375,000. 

Frederick Spier of Detroit designed the Romanesque structure.  It is constructed of steel framework with an exterior limestone veneer, and is a combination of Byzantine and traditional Romanesque architecture.  The front of the church originally featured two lighthouses where wrought iron lamps reside today. The steeple does indeed rise 180 feet.  The southwest corner houses the 2,700 pound bell, cast in 1902 for the parish's original church.  All three towers are capped with copper sheeting, which is curved to meet at the top with a wood post that supports a 6' x 3' x 6' gold-leafed metal clad cross. The front features three sets of double doors of copper and bronze.  Over the entrance is a figure of Mary and the words "Domus Mea Domus Orationis Est" which translated from the Latin is  "My House is a House of Prayer" (Isaiah 56:7).

All of the stained glass windows, "Stations of the Cross", and mosaic "Our Lady Star of the Sea" were purchased after WWI from Tyrolese Art Glass Company in Innsbruck, Austria for $22,000.  The windows are said to be the finest in the country. They are listed in the Michigan Stained Glass Census with special emphasis on the "Christ and the Battlefield Window". In 1961, all of the stained glass was appraised for $150,000;  today they would be considered priceless.   Mary; Joseph; St. Anne with Mary; Divine Mercy; St. Therese; St. Roch; Pius X; the communion rail and back altar are all Italian carrera marble.  The altars and communion rails were a donation by George Washington Hill (1884-1946).  Mr. Hill was the president of the American Tobacco Company at the time and the red and green colors of the mosaic work on the main altar corresponds to the original colors on a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes.  

Photo Courtesy of Jackson Distrcit Library Archives.

Teaching Life Drawing and Yoga, Ave's work centers on the figure as a vehicle to express her enthusiasm about life. Her pieces are emotionally charged, using bold color and definitive line. Her sensuous use of paint is direct and textural and she uses the poses of the models she works with to express not only their unique individuality but her passionate energy.
In addition to the paintings, her pastel drawings are some of her freshest and most electrically charged work. Bold and direct, using rich and uexpected color, they capture the essence of the pose in the moment, with all of its deep language. Body Adornments: Ave's pieces are one of a kind, custom designs. She seeks out precious stones and objects that speak to her and creates wearable art that become focal pieces. Expect lots of compliments.  www.yogastudiodeeplyart.com

Louise Nevelson created many outdoor scultpures late in her life and is considered to be one of the most important figures in 20th-century American Scuplture. summer Night Tree is a 30-foot tall Cor-Ten steel compilation of geometric forms. Nevelson created the artwork for specifically for this site and considered the combination of square and art to be "a marriage that's going to work". This abstract public sculpture was not met with unanimous popular approval when installed in 1978. Even to this day, with the demolition of the defunct Riverwalk Plaza Hotel, there has been talk of moving the sculpture, but still it stands in Downtown Jackson as Nevelson intended.

Summer Night Tree, by Louise Nevelson, painted Cor-Ten steel, 1978

Abstract and non-representational art may have been commonly installed in public places across the United States by 1978. Still Nevelson's Summer Night Tree was met with opposition when it arrived in Michigan. Letters to the Jackson Citizen-Patriot derided the appearance of the tall, dark artwork so prominently placed in an important urban plaza. Writers objected to the size, shape, and color of the sculpture, as well as to its abstract style. Some citizens complained about the $152,000 price tag, although $50,000 was provided by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The remaining money was raised in Jackson through private contributions, and those who helped finance the sculpture certainly celebrated the dedication of this fine abstract sculpture by the renowned artist.

Summer Night Tree is not the first monumental public work by Nevelson, an accomplished artist since the 1950s. However, it is her first public sculpture in the Mid-West and the first of two installed in Michigan. The second, Triology, was installed in Southfield, Michigan the same year. Once commissioned to make a sculpture for Jackson, Nevelson visited the site to develop her concept. She then returned to her New York City studio for a year-long effort to realize her design. The piece was designed specifically for the site at One Jackson Square and Nevelson was very pleased with the installation.
However in 1988 Nevelson had died, the Inn on Jackson Square closed and Summer Night Tree began to fade away on a largely unused plaza. In January 1993, Jackson Community College suggested that the sculpture be refurbished and moved to campus. Public debate finally it was agreed that the sculpture should stay in its intended location and a local painting company, Tingley Bros. Painting, Inc. painted Summer Night Tree for free. However it is only a matter of years that it will need to be painted again. 

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Jackson County (ACAJC) is a non-profit organization that coordinates, plans and advocates for arts and cultural experiences in our community.

We believe :

• Communities thrive, both spiritually and economically, when arts and culture are an integral part of daily life
• Arts and cultural organizations have a responsibility to the community to be relevant and accountable
• Individuals and organizations are stronger and most effective when they connect, share knowledge, work together and are committed to creative leadership, diversity and leveraging the assets of the community

The Fourth wall is a new, multifaceted arts and entertainment venue. Providing a venue to relax and enjoy musical and theatrical arts - from Cabaret to Comedy, Poetry Slams to Accoustic Jam Sessions.

The Jackson Chorale, in Jackson, Michigan, performs major chorale works in a broad range of musical styles from the standard choral repertoire. The Jackson Michigan Chorale is celebrating it's 58th season! The Chorale made its official debut on March 9, 1955 in an appearance with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra. However the roots of the Chorale go back over 100 years as many vocal music groups formed and dissolved over the years. A newspaper article in 1911 mentions the fine singing of The Jackson Choral Society upon the occasion of a visit from President Taft. The Chorale frequently performs with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, as well as separately singing a range of music from cabaret to classical chorale repitoire.

Comedy in the style of IMPROV!
What is improv anyway?
FUNNY you should ask!  Improv is a style of theatre in which the actors use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously.  Improv typically uses audience suggestions to guide the performance as they create the dialog, setting, and plot.
The best way of understanding this is, ""Life is an improv"" - Timm Richardson
Most people are familiar with improv from the popular television show, ""Who's Line is it Anyway?"" 
The cast: Alex Soper (Troupe Manager), Timm Richardson, Vannessa Williams, Adam Woolsey, Dan Vainner, and Beth Schwab.

The park features the sculpture Defense of the Flag or Jackson County Soldiers and Sailors Monument, an original Lorado Taft sculpture made of bronze and granite, surrounded by a beautiful flower garden and benches to rest from downtown shopping to enjoy it. The  memorial to the 3,282 men of the First and Seventeenth Michigan Volunteer Infantry regiments was erected by their commander, Gen. William H. Withington. Jackson holds the honor of mustering the first volunteer regiment of Civil War soldiers in the state, although it is not the first Civil War Memorial, it is one of the finest. It is unique in the fact that rather than organize a public fundraising drive as most did, Withington funded the memorial out of his own pocket. Although the monument bears a date of May 30, 1903, production problems delayed its dedication until June 14, 1904, by which time General Withington had died. Lorado Taft was a famous sculptor of the day and taught at the Art Institute of Chicago. For more information on the public sculpture of Jackson visit the Ella Sharp Museum at http://www.ellasharp.org/our-outdoor-sculpture.html . Photo Courtesy of the Jackson District Library Archives. 

Though it may not be the oldest cemetery in the city, it does contain the oldest historical burials. When the City of Jackson was first founded in 1829, the original cemetery was located on East Michigan Avenue. As our city expanded eastward, the need to properly honor its pioneers conflicted with the growing city landscape. Therefore, in 1890, a 25-acre plot of land was purchased from local landowner, James C. Wood, with the purpose of becoming Woodland Cemetery. The remains of Jackson’s pioneers were disinterred, and reinterred, into the newly designated cemetery.

Over the years, 68 more acres of land were added to the original 25, bringing the entire cemetery area up to 93 acres. There are numerous private mausoleums located throughout the cemetery landscape, including the Woodland Cemetery Mausoleum, which was built in 1919. Woodland also features a chapel, built in 1975, providing a peaceful, fitting location for interment services.

There are several unique and notable burials here but none as notable as William A. Foote, local entrepreneur. Foote, an Adrian native, founded Jackson Electric Light Works, which evolved into Consumers Energy. He was a robust man who died suddenly of a heart attack at age sixty. His wife founded Jackson's Foote Memorial Hospital in his memory. She also presumably made arrangements for the memorial sculpture in Woodland Cemetery.

William A. Foote Memorial, by Lorado Taft, bronze and granite, 1923

The William A. Foote Memorial is a three dimensional free-standing bronze figure positioned in front of a tall stone slab. This is not an uncommon design for this date, but it is an especially effective one. If the single figure on the Foote Memorial should stand, she would be roughly twice life-size larger than the statuary in the Evergreen Cemetery, Laura Evans Memorial. The large scale of the figure is not unique to this work by Taft. His other allegorical female figure in Michigan, Alma Mater (1929) at Muskegon High School, is about the same size, as are several of his other statues elsewhere. 

Taft created a grand and eloquent memorial for William Foote. The simple form of the polished black granite slab frames the allegorical figure majestically. The big-boned woman leans forward, holding a scroll of papers across her lap and a pen or stylus in her right hand. Her cloak is blown off her left shoulder, exposing a long and strong arm. Her youthful face is framed by short hair and a crown of laurel like that which the ancient Greeks bestowed upon their victors and heroes. Her eyes look over the heads of viewers and focus far in the distance. She seems lost in thought, perhaps remembering William Foote as she writes of his deeds in her scroll.

A small replica of this statue was placed at Taft's own gravestone, in Elmwood, Illinois, entitled "Memory", perhaps because the original was a favorite of Taft's wife. 

See more information about outdoor sculpture in Jackson at http://www.ellasharp.org/our-outdoor-sculpture.html