Homestead Resort ups its art game

By Ross Boissoneau

Sun contributor

A reception Aug. 12 with featured artist Adam VanHouten officially kicked off both the opening of the new art gallery at The Homestead and its partnership with Oliver Art Center. In addition to works by VanHouten, the gallery includes a number of works by area artists depicting scenes and views around the Sleeping Bear area.

Bob Kuras, owner and CEO of the Glen Arbor resort and a longtime supporter of the arts, says he is looking forward to expanding the resort’s arts efforts and hopes it increases support for and the visibility of visual art in the region.

“It has taken a while to get here, but I am very pleased with the results,” Kuras says. “Our permanent gallery and the rotating works will showcase some of the vibrant art and the artists who call the area home.”

Adam VanHouten is a professional artist with years of experience teaching visual art at both Oliver Art Center and Northwestern Michigan College, as well as conducting painting workshops. He says he draws inspiration from the world around him, and living in the beauty of the Sleeping Bear region allows him immediate access to some of the most scenic spots in all of Michigan. “My paintings are inspired by the textures of this world,” he says.

Visitors to the Welcome Center at The Homestead are immediately welcomed by numerous paintings adorning the walls. The art continues in hallways and upstairs as well. Artworks include a watercolor of Fishtown by Gene Rantz, a pastel by Mary Fuscaldo entitled Autumn at the Dechow Farm, a watercolor of Point Betsie Lighthouse by Kathleen Chaney-Fritz, and other pieces reflecting artists’ interpretations of iconic attractions and vistas of the Sleeping Bear area.

A separate section of the gallery showcases some of the accolades and notable recognition both the resort and the area have received. That includes the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore being named the Most Beautiful Place in America by viewers of ABC-TV’s Good Morning America and the beaches of Sleeping Bear being cited one of the Top Five One-Of-A-Kind Beaches in the world by Trip Advisor.

Kuras says the opening is just the first step in the resort’s efforts to showcase art and collaborate with artists and arts organizations. He intends to feature the art by VanHouten and others at various locations around the resort, including its restaurants, shops and Manitou Passage Golf Club. “We want to develop our own art trail here at The Homestead, something that will allow visitors and residents the opportunity to discover works around every corner,” he says.

Tamara Hoffbauer, executive director at Oliver Art Center, says she and the artists there are excited to work with The Homestead. “It is an opportunity for us to expand our reach and continue to advance the arts in the region,” she says. “Strengthening relationships between businesses and artists and arts organizations will help position the region as a destination not only to visit but to live and work in.”

Kuras notes the partnership with Oliver Art Center is not exclusive. Oliver Art Center was the first to respond positively to the idea and its staff has been working diligently with The Homestead. Kuras emphasizes that the current efforts with OAC to create a cooperative gallery at The Homestead and a plein air event this fall in no way preclude potential ventures with Glen Arbor Art Center and/or Leland’s Old Art Building in the future.

“We are really pleased to be working with Oliver Art Center, and we hope to create more opportunities for mutual benefit,” he says. “We also hope to work with other artists and arts organizations over time to help build greater appreciation and visibility for the arts.

“This area is so well-known for the art and artists,” he continues. “There is so much art and so many artists throughout the region. We believe this is a unique opportunity for our visitors to experience it from the moment they check in, and hopefully they will explore the other art centers and galleries throughout the region.”

The partnership with Oliver Art Center had its genesis in a cooperative effort to build more year-round opportunities for businesses along the lakeshore area. The first step involved creating a marketing group involving various businesses along the western parts of Leelanau and Benzie Counties, as the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore extends from just north of Frankfort almost all the way to Leland.

Hoffbauer says she immediately saw the potential in such cooperative ventures. “Many people who visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes area don’t realize that it stretches from Frankfort to Leland. It’s virtually all Sleeping Bear coast. The beaches, trails and appeal of the towns along the way make the entire shoreline area appealing and distinct from other places,” she says. The hope is that having the business communities and the arts and cultural communities work together will benefit them all.

Kuras and the Sleeping Bear Coast marketing group are seeking to build awareness and business throughout the year, rather than depending completely on the summer season. The idea and hope are that by creating events, activities and attractions in fall, winter and spring, more people will be attracted to the region year-round, resulting in more stability for businesses and the ability to attract employees looking for year-round jobs rather than relying on seasonal workers.