Glen Arbor Arts Center’s “New Views” examines housing shortage

From staff reports

How does a shortage of housing in Northwest Michigan take its toll on residents and businesses? That question is the focus of an hour-long panel discussion June 11, 10:30 am at the Glen Arbor Arts Center, 6031 S. Lake St., Glen Arbor. This program is open to the public without charge.

The panel is composed of three housing advocates:

• Sarah Lucas, executive director of the newly-created Housing North, a Traverse City non-profit that supports stakeholders working to create housing in a 10-county area.

• Frank Clements, volunteer member of the Leelanau County Housing Action Committee.

• Chris Frey, volunteer development manager of Leelanau Reach.

Creating homes for young families, workers and other low- to middle-income residents is a multilayered challenge. Communities must grapple with new zoning ordinances as well as work through negative perceptions that accompany terms such as “affordable housing.” The GAAC panel will also explore how affordable housing contributes to the character and diversity of a community.

This project is offered in conjunction with the GAAC’s exhibition “New Views: Home/Place,” an exploration of home and place identity. The exhibition is in the GAAC gallery from June 7-August 8. For more information visit GlenArborArt.org.

Glen Arbor Arts Center’s New Views lineup

The Glen Arbor Arts Center’s 2019 New Views: Home/Place exhibition,a juried show of 2D and 3D works by 25 artists, explores home and place identity from fresh, original and unexpected perspectives. The exhibition continues through August 8 in the GAAC gallery, 6031 S. Lake St., Glen Arbor.

In addition to the exhibitions, New Views: Home/Place offers a full range of programs—from author interviews to panel discussions—that explore the exhibition’s theme from a wide variety of perspectives:

June 11, 10:30—Creating Affordable + Workplace Housing in Leelanau County. How does a shortage of housing in Northwest Michigan take its toll on residents and businesses? That question is the focus of an hour-long panel discussion with three housing activists. Free.

June 23, 2 pm—Talk About Art—Place Based: Writing About Home, Inspired By Place. Author interviews with Stephanie Mills, Lynne Rae Perkins, and Aaron Stander.

July 7, 2 pm—Historic Cottages of Glen Lake—More than 20 years ago Barbara Siepker, a Glen Arbor book publisher with a keen interest in local history, began a project to memorialize the heyday of summer resort and cottage life in the Glen Lake area. The result is the book Historic Cottages of Glen Lake.Siepker is joined by Traverse City architectural photographer Dietrich Floeter, her collaborator, to discuss the project. Free.

July 11, 10 am—The Anishinaabek People At Home, In This Place—JoAnne Cook—practicing attorney, past Vice-President of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa/Chippewa Indians—teaches the history of her people, and specializes in making this history relevant for non-native audiences. Cook comes to the Glen Arbor Arts Center with insights into the Anishinaabek people past and present. Free.

July 21, 2 pm—A Sign of the Times—An historic wind storm ripped through Leelanau County in early August 2015, leveling acres of woodland, forest, and residential structures.The broken remains of sheds, docks and other wood structures provided the raw materials for two young entrepreneurs to turn destruction into construction. Siblings Bella and Zack Pryor talk about the small business they created. Free.

July 28, 2 pm—Mapping Home—Scott Mills moved back to his childhood home of Maple City in 2014 after spending 10 years away. He quickly realized he needed to get reacquainted with his home turf. Mills talks about the tracking and mapping project he created to do just that. Free.

August 4, 2 pm—Community Music Making and Singing—The Glen Arbor Arts Center’s Summer Singers offer a short program of songs about home and place, and some conversation about how community singing enlivens and enriches a place. Free.

To learn more about all the New ViewsHome/Placeprograms, visit GlenArborArt.org and click on EVENTS. Beginning June 1, the Glen Arbor Arts Center is open Monday-Friday 9 am-4 pm; and noon-4 pm on Saturday and Sunday.