Artist-in-Residence Workshop with Playwright Jessie Lillis Posted December 1, 2021 For their public presentation, Heron Kennedy and Jessie Lillis will present their research on the island, as well as excerpts from an adapted script of The Tempest. By this point in the residency, they will have chosen a location for the performance, and will be well-underway with adapting the script, so they will be able to give participants an idea of the type of performance they can expect to see the following summer. If participants are interested, Kennedy and Lillis will be happy to perform selected passages from the adapted script. This is a free workshop located in the Station 256 Conference Room, located above the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center. #thisismackinac
Artist-in-Residence Workshop with Artist Patrick Mohundro Posted December 1, 2021 Artist Patrick Mohundro will give a lecture on their work, outlining their relationship to materials and how it relates to Mohundro’s childhood in Iron Mountain, MI. Additionally, Mohundro may give a workshop on stained glass and casting with different materials such as porcelain or deodorant. Finally, Mohundro will introduce their gallery project in some capacity. This is a free workshop located in the Station 256 Conference Room, located above the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center. #thisismackinac
Artist-in-Residence Workshop Painter John Dempsey Posted December 1, 2021 Painter John Dempsey will give a presentation on Military Field Drawing during the time of the British and American occupation of Fort Mackinac. The discussion would focus on methods of drawing from direct observation and the training that was given military personnel during 18th and 19th centuries in order to communicate important military field information. People attending this presentation will then be offered drawing materials and encouraged to try their hand at drawing items that are either located in the The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum or of a nearby outdoor landscape. They will be encouraged to make their drawings with the thought in mind that it will be sent as ‘reconnaissance’ to an imaginary group of British or American army officers. The goal of the presentation is to encourage people to engage in an activity that directly connects them to an activity practiced by historic Mackinac inhabitants. Drawing from direct observation isn’t an activity that one necessarily associates with early America History but it can be easily understood as an important, and even vital, communication tool of the time. This is a free workshop located in the Station 256 Conference Room, located above the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center. #thisismackinac
Artist-in-Residence Workshop Photographer Marilyn Murphy-Feather Posted December 1, 2021 Photographer Marilyn Murphy-Feather will present “Find Your Art on the Island,” a program about their artist residency experience on the island and a photography walk with the public. This may also include a “Photographing the Landscape” slide program and photography walk on the island. This is a free workshop located in the Station 256 Conference Room, located above the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center. #thisismackinac
Artist-in-Residence Workshop with Poet Lauren Carlson Posted December 1, 2021 Life By Water: on Mindfulness and Poetic Form with Lauren K. Carlson and Great Lakes Poet Lorine Niedecker Lauren K. Carlson will present an interactive poetry workshop for the public on mindfulness, poetic form and observing the natural world. Using regional poet Lorine Niedecker’s work as an example, participants will 1) receive a presentation on haiku, mindfulness, and objectivist poetry with relation to nature and place 2) take an observation walk (“gingko walk” in the Japanese Tradition) and return to 3) compose poems with notes taken while observing, before 4) sharing poems with other attendees and reflecting on the newly created works. This is a free workshop located in the Station 256 Conference Room, located above the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center. #thisismackinac
Mackinac’s Forgotten Features Posted December 1, 2021 On this guided bicycle tour, join Kyle Bagnall, Park Naturalist, as we search for features that are long lost, forgotten, or no longer exist today. Tales of Deer Park, Cowbell Point, the Musical Well, Scott’s Cave, and Fairy Arch are just a few of the special stories you’ll hear. This journey will start behind Fort Mackinac and cover about 7 miles before ending near Marquette Park. Participants should bring a good working bike, a drink of water, and a sense of adventure. Admission by donation. #thisismackinac
Underground Fort Mackinac Posted December 1, 2021 Fort Mackinac saw many changes over its 115-year history. All the buildings you see in the fort today were built by soldiers, but there were many other buildings that did not survive. Join Curator of Archaeology Lynn Evans for an evening walking tour to explore the archaeological side of Fort Mackinac history. This is a free event; donations welcome. Meet at the Fort Mackinac Avenue of Flags. #thisismackinac
Artist-in-Residence Workshop with Composer Andrew Perkins Posted November 30, 2021 Perkins is a composer, conductor, and music educator from Fenton, MI. In 1938, a young folk music collector named Alan Lomax came from Washington, DC to record Michigan’s folk music traditions for the Archive of American Folk-Song at the Library of Congress. Lomax was particularly interested in the trove of ballads remembered by aging lumberjacks and Great Lakes sailors. In ten weeks, he recorded more than 120 performers from Detroit to the western Upper Peninsula. These recordings, along with the 1950’s recordings of Duane Starcher (recorded for WMUK Radio at Western Michigan University) were rich source material for an arrangement Perkins created in 2020 titled “TUEBOR SUITE.” The arrangement is for symphonic wind band, and has been performed dozens of times in the state and around the country. For their public presentation, Perkins will sing these folk songs, accompanying themself on the guitar. During the residency, Perkins will also be composing a lyrical work based on the natural beauty and historical importance of the island, to be premiered at a later date. This is a free workshop at the Station 256 Conference Room, located above the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center. #thisismackinac
Exploring Mackinac’s Natural Wonders Posted November 30, 2021 In 1846, James Beven wrote, “A ramble is a pleasure which may be enjoyed at Mackinac to perfection…” Join Park Naturalist, Kyle Bagnall, on an afternoon ramble to explore some of the island’s most ancient natural wonders. Participant should meet behind Fort Mackinac, at the Avenue of Flags on Huron Road, where we’ll begin our hike. From there, we’ll following winding pathways to Skull Cave, Point Lookout, and Sugar Loaf as we tread upon “The Turtle’s Back” of Ancient Mackinac Island. Wonders come in all sizes, so be prepared for large and small surprises. Wear clothes for the weather and good shoes for walking about 2.5 miles total. This hike is free, with no preregistration required. #thisismackinac
Lilacs and Warblers Birding Adventure! Posted November 30, 2021 Birders of all ages will enjoy this unique guided adventure, searching for spring songbirds during the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival. Meet naturalist Kyle Bagnall in Marquette Park at the statue of Father Marquette. Amidst thousands of fragrant lilac blossoms, we’ll stroll through the park, then up the hill, looking for migrating warblers, raptors overhead, and resident songbirds. This is a free event – donations welcome! #thisismackinac
