Each year, Chelsea Center for the Arts selects individuals to honor at Autumn Jubilee – it’s biggest fund raising event of the calendar. This year, The Gala Committee has chosen to recognize two honorary artists, longstanding CCA piano instructor, Lester Castellana, and local watercolor artist, Missy Cowan. In addition, Patti Schwarz and Deborah Greer of Chelsea’s River Gallery will be Honorary Chairs of the event, which is now in its 16th year.
Lester Castellana, Music Instructor
Lester Castellana is in his 6th year of teaching at CCA, as an instructor in private piano lessons, 88 Fingers group piano for young children, and Parent & Child Music Lessons, and as accompanist for the Chelsea Children’s Choir, and presenter at the Musical Montage lecture series. A world-class pianist and music educator, Lester shares his passion for piano, music history, and musicology, with children and adults, alike. He has a knack for guiding his students to discover the inner workings of music—making the most ordinary exercises and pieces extraordinary. Lester’s devotion to his students and steady, gentle approach to piano study have led to great success in his thriving CCA piano studio and family music programs. He is the first one to volunteer his time and talent for community events, and he embodies the essence of what CCA stands for in its mission to enhance the lives of its students by engaging them in the arts.
Missy Cowan, Artist
Missy Cowan, a former educator from Kentucky, moved to Chelsea with her family in 2000. Having switched to education from art during her college years, she rediscovered her creative side after retiring from teaching and signing up to join the Artists Teaching Artists group at Chelsea Center for the Arts. This group, led by Janet Alford and Rose Bradley, focuses on watercolor and has a loyal following among local artists. Missy’s style had previously centered more on geometric and abstract images, primarily in acrylics, but she finds she has an affinity with watercolor and especially enjoys painting intimate floral portraits and landscapes. Crediting CCA’s Artists Teaching Artists open studio as a place where she has garnered a wealth of artistic knowledge, and where she enjoys the collaborative, supportive artistic environment, Missy has gone on to have work in many juried shows, including most recently Holland Arts Council’s Fall exhibition. Joining ArtistsTeaching Artists more than exceeded my expectations in feeling comfortable as an artist. For me, it’s like home away from home”. View Missy’s work at www.missycowan.com.
Patti Schwarz, River Gallery
Deb Greer, River Gallery
River Gallery opened in downtown Chelsea in 2000, and offers services, including art consulting/advising, art installation, archiving of art collections, art rental, framing and shipping. The gallery was originally founded by Chelsea resident Patti Schwarz’s, as part of her graphic design business. She showcased sculptures of her husband, artist John Schwarz sculptures and other area artists. Ann Arbor art lover and entrepreneur Deborah Greer met Patti in 2003 when she visited the gallery. They hit it off, talked about finding an interesting space in downtown Chelsea to renovate and expanding the scope of the River Gallery to include important artists from the region and beyond.
River Gallery enjoys contributing to the development of the arts and culture scene in Chelsea and Western Washtenaw County. The gallery frequently hosts exhibitions by major artists, dance and music events, fundraisers and arts writing workshops. Between them, Deb and Patti have served on boards and committees for Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights, The Arts Alliance of Washtenaw County, Midwest Literary Walk, Chelsea District Library Art Committee, Comic Jam!, The DDA, Sculpture Walk Chelsea and, of course, the Chelsea Center for the Arts. Deb and Patti feel honored to work with and support the cultural collaborations and events currently thriving in this arts and music loving community. And their greatest source of satisfaction comes from seeing all those that come to Chelsea who to support its arts and culture. Visit the River Gallery website at www.chelsearivergallery.com
The Chelsea Center for the Arts and its Autumn Jubilee Committee 2011 congratulate Lester, Missy, Deb and Patti, and looks forward to seeing them at Autumn Jubilee on November 12 at Chelsea’s Comfort Inn. Autumn Jubilee 2011, Wish you were here! will feature exciting vacation and staycation opportunities, wonderful local art, music experiences and all sorts of guilty pleasures. For details on reserving your ticket, please call 734 433 2787.
The mission of the Chelsea Center for the Arts is to enhance the quality of life in Chelsea and the surrounding areas through programs which encourage participation in and appreciation of the arts. The CCA offers classes, workshops, private lessons, after school art clubs, summer camps, outreach programs, exhibitions, performances, lectures, and special events for youths and adults. Collaborative programs produced with community partners such as the River Gallery, the Chelsea District Library, and the Chelsea District Public Schools further enhance the capabilities and impact of this important cultural resource, which also contributes to the vitality of downtown Chelsea and supports local and area artists.
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For further information, contact Sue Whitmarsh (swhitmarsh@chelseacenterforthearts.org)
at (734) 433-2787, or go to www.chelseacenterforthearts.org.