Mackinac State Historic Parks to Create Innovative Mackinac Island Art Museum

"This is a great project because it allows us to restore a significant building and exhibit a major part of our collection that currently has no public display venue," said MSHP Director Phil Porter. "This will provide an entirely new experience for our guests onMackinac Island. The Park Commission is very grateful to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation for its support of this important project."

The 1838 Indian Dormitory was built onMackinac Island as part of improvements to the Mackinac Island United States Indian Agency called for in the 1836 Treaty ofWashington, in which Indian nations of the Great Lakes deeded significant portions ofMichigan's upper and lower peninsulas tothe United States. The dormitory was constructed to house Native Americans who came to the island to receive payment as part of the provision. However, as the Native Americans visiting the agency continued to camp along the harbor, it was primarily used by Indian agents as an administrative building. After eight years, it no longer served this purpose and was eventually converted into a schoolhouse for island children. During the early 1940s, the school building served as the "Mackinac Island Summer School of Art." Although successful, the program was suspended during WWII and not revived.

In 1964 the seven-memberMackinac Island State Park Commission, the governing body of Mackinac State Historic Parks, purchased the property from theMackinac Island Board of Education. In 1965-66 the commission completely restored the building to its 1838 appearance including the removal of the later addition. Exhibits were installed and it was opened each summer to the public from 1966 until 2002.

A year ago, MSHP staff began outlining a proposal to convert the unused historic structure into an art museum. The next stage of the project, which begins this fall, requires a major restoration of the building. This includes building an addition to house an elevator and fire exit, asbestos abatement, replacing the roof and rotted windows, and foundation repairs. Deteriorated exhibits will be removed from the inside and the space prepared for the new art exhibition. A fire suppression system, security system, and HVAC will be installed. Rooms will be refurbished, electrical systems upgraded, and a new restroom added. At that point, a micro-climate exhibit case system will be installed to allow long-term exhibit items to remain in place throughout the year.

Once completed, the first floor will contain the permanent collection exhibit, with the second floor housing changing exhibits and work from contemporaryMackinac Island artists.

"The theme of the art museum will be howMackinac Island inspired artistic creation throughout history beginning with Native American objects and including 18th, 19th, and 20th century maps, paintings, drawings, ceramics, glassware, hand-tinted black-and-white photographs, and otherMackinac Island art objects," Porter said. "The exhibition will also include works from modern day artists whose narratives will explain howMackinac Island inspired their artistic creation."

Plans for the ground level include an art learning studio. An art educator and a 500-square-foot learning studio will provide a hands-on art learning experience for visitors. Guests will have the option of taking a MSHP-provided easel intoMarquette park to paint lilacs, weave Native American-style baskets, or create hand-tinted photographs as William Gardiner did in the early 20th century.

The lower level will also include a catering kitchen for small receptions.

Mackinac State Historic Parks, a pureMichigan family of living history museums and parks in northernMichigan's Straits ofMackinac, is an agency within the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Its sites -- which are accredited by the American Association of Museums -- include Fort Mackinac,Mackinac Island State Park, and Historic Downtown onMackinac Island, and Colonial Michilimackinac, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park inMackinaw City. Visitor information is available at 231-436-4100 or on the web at www.MackinacParks.com .

SOURCE Mackinac State Historic Parks

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Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze, Daily News

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