Huron Daily Tribune
Friday February 7, 2025
Members of Exploring the Arts — Huron County, from left to right, Patt Bennett, Kevin Cook and Laurie Cook, going over plans for upcoming events sponsored by the group.
Huron County arts group expands kids' camp after successful launch
BY BILL DILLER
FOR THE TRIBUNE
Exploring the Arts — Huron County was founded in 2022. The group’s purpose was to give area children the opportunity to experience the joy of creating art. They have been successful, and are expanding their presence in the Thumb area.
“When we started, it was specifically to be a fine arts camp for kids,” said Laurie Cook of Caseville, one of the founders of the group and presently its
treasurer. “It went well. Our first year we did one week, five days of art camp for kids.”
They had 21 children attend the camp, which was held in the Youth Center in Elkton.
“It was wonderful,” Cook said. “The second year, in 2023, the teachers requested to possibly expand to two weeks, so we could reach more kids.”
Early on, the group applied for and received non-profit status. Since they were a nonprofit organization, the founders felt it was necessary to make sure the kids attending the art camp received professional level instruction.
“We pull our art teachers locally,” Cook said. “Our camp is taught by professional teachers.”
They enlisted art teachers from area schools, as well as professional artists, including Jenny Turner of Turner Arts, and Cook’s husband Kevin.
“The two drama teachers we’ve had both have degrees in theater arts,” Cook said. “Kevin is a music teacher and plays with the Bill Denbrock Big Band. He also teaches music at the Huron ISD. His degree is in K-12 music. We also have Patt Bennett. She has an art background.”
Because the first year received overwhelming support, both through attendance and community encouragement — they had 42 kids take classes — the second year’s camp was moved to the Elkton Civic Center, as well as the Youth Center. This year plans are underway to move it to a larger venue, the Elkton Missionary Church, so everything will be under one roof.
“We are moving there this year, because we’ve completely outgrown our space,” Cook said. “Last year we had the two buildings, but we had 72 children come through camp.” Classes at the art camp include music, dance, singing, rhythm and drama.
“And we do the visual arts,” Cook said. “We do painting and felting. Last year we did nature journaling. We’ve done mosaics and learned about pop art and history.”
Those attending are mostly from Huron County, but visitors to the area are welcome, as well.
“We get some who come up for the summer,” Cook said. “Some of them specifically come up that week, so they can attend art camp.”
Dates for this year’s Exploring the Arts — Huron County Art Camp are Aug. 4-8 and Aug. 11-15, for kids ages 7 through 14. Cost is $75 per child for the week, with a rate of $50 for a second sibling.
“That is the first two weeks in August, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m,” Cook said. “Everyone goes to lunch, and we provide snacks. We supply what’s needed plus they receive a T-shirt at the end of camp, and a tote bag.”
The camp is designed as an introduction to the arts.
“We don’t expect kids to master their skill in one week,” Cook said. “We want them to try something. I’m of the belief that every child should have a paint brush in their hand at least once. They should try the arts. You never know what you’re going to find, or who is gong to latch onto something that inspires them. That’s really the purpose of the arts camp.”
On the Friday of each week of camp, there is a group exhibit and performance.
“It’s open to the public, and well attended,” Cook said. “Tables are set up and the art work is displayed. And, they do their performances.”
Being a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the group was required to have a board of directors.
“The board started out just people who were teachers,” Cook said. “Now we’re growing, so we determined we need other people on the board who come from the outside, to help us keep on course. At the same time, we voted to expand our original mission.”
The original mission was the art camp. Exploring the Arts — Huron County now includes the Summer Art Camp and the Circle of Art & Artists. A subgroup within the latter is the Thumb Area Plein-Aire Painters, an informal group that meets weekly to paint at mostly outdoor locations in the Thumb.
The mission statement for the Circle of Art & Artists is to support the arts through leadership, advocacy, funding, programs and education. They envision a group that will foster creativity in Huron County through the inclusive and collaborative advancement of the arts. They hope to eventually offer classes, workshops and retreats, and host artist spotlights, classes, and possibly art shows. They hope to become a place to go and discover what’s going on in the art community in Huron County.
The Thumb Area Plein-Aire Painters meet during the winter in the Community Center at Oakwood Senior Housing, in Caseville. Anyone with an interest in painting is invited. Once the weather warms up, they will meet at a variety of locations in the Thumb. The Circle of Art & Artists is in its infancy. Plans are underway to expand their influence in the area’s artistic community.
As part of their expansion, artists from Exploring the Arts — Huron County will be at the Caseville Museum on Feb. 15 from noon until 4:30 p.m., during the upcoming Shanty Days festival.
“We’ll be there doing a make-and-take art project, and telling the public about the group,” Cook said.
In addition, the Circle of Arts & Artists, in conjunction with Nobel Fox Media, is hosting another event in Caseville on Feb. 25, at 5:30 p.m. at the Thumb Brewery.
“It’s all about marketing art and artists,” Cook said.
There is no charge for this event, but seating is limited, so pre-registration at www.noblefoxmedia.com is necessary.
The ultimate goal of Exploring the Arts — Huron County is to become a lasting source of art in the area.
“I want it to be a legacy,” Cook said. “The arts are so important in developing a well rounded adult in all aspects of life—critical thinking, problem solving, self confidence and self esteem.”
The Summer Art Camp was just the beginning for Exploring the Arts — Huron County. Their expansion is sure to draw more interest and bring out the creativity of budding artists throughout the Thumb.
For more information on Exploring the Arts-Huron County, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/630137688442522 or www.exploringtheartshc.com
Artist Patt Bennett reflects on lifelong passion for the arts
BY BILL DILLER
FOR THE TRIBUNE
There is something about being out in nature that touches an artist’s soul. At least that’s the case with Patt Bennett, of Caseville. She has been involved in the arts since childhood.
“It goes way back to my crayons,” Bennett said. “What started with crayons has gone full circle. I have a business degree, but I’ve been fortunate that I’ve always worked for an artistic company.”
Her resume is replete with artistic connections.
“I worked at Joanne Stores as an education coordinator,” Bennett said. “And
I had my own art studio in the Lapeer area. Then I got my dream job. I was
the manager for the Art Center in Traverse City.”
While there, she was involved in promoting local artists. She was also tasked with bringing internationally known artists to the area, to teach weeklong workshops.
“The Art Center is a gallery, plus a membership club,” Bennett said. “They’ve been in existence for 50 years.
“It was a big deal in the 70s, 80s and 90s.”
Huron Daily Tribune
Wednesday February 19, 2025
Patt Bennett, founder of the Thumb Area Plein-Aire Painters, works on a painting at their winter venue, the Community Room at Oakwood Senior Housing, in Caseville.
Commitment to the arts is in her nature. She’s been involved with a number of galleries.
“I was in one art gallery where I was known as Mrs. Ketchup, because I was in elementary schools a lot, painting on the walls” Bennett said. “My last name at the time was Heinz, that’s why I was known as Mrs. Ketchup.”
Not one to sit still for long, Bennett has lived in other parts of the country, spending time as an event coordinator in New Mexico. Family connections brought her back to Michigan, and ultimately to Caseville.
“I love the big water,” Bennett said. “It’s a great opportunity to be here, and only an hour from my grandkids.”
Since moving to the Thumb, she has remained true to her calling — involvement in the arts.
“It’s part of my DNA,” Bennett said. “If I’m not doing something artistic, something’s wrong. Even when my kids were small, I was involved with doing something with art.”
Although mostly a watercolor artist, she also works with acrylics and mixed media.
“I call myself a ‘possibletarian,’” Bennett said, “because anything’s possible.”
In order to feed her need and love of nature, she began spending time at the Huron County Nature Center, near Oak Beach. While there, a member of the board of directors approached her with the idea of starting a plein-aire painting group to paint scenes of the nature center. And so was formed the Thumb Area Plein-Aire Painters.
Plein-aire painting is simply painting outdoors, and the nature center proved the perfect place to practice their craft.
“There are six of us who are pretty faithful,” Bennett said. “We’ve been meeting on Fridays. That seems to work for everyone.”
The Thumb Area Plein-Aire Painters began meeting in June 2024.
“We did all the Fridays in June at the nature center,” Bennett said.
Since that time, the group has met at a variety of locations in the Thumb.
“We’ve been to Pointe Aux Barques,” Bennett said. “We did some of the historical cottages there. We were invited by one of the owners.”
They’ve also painted Turnip Rock and Loosemore Rock and at Mud Creek Public Access. In addition, the group has painted at a small inland lake, the Caseville breakwall, and at a private home.
With cold weather upon them — their cutoff for outside painting is about 35 degrees — they have begun meeting each Friday in the Community Room at Oakwood Senior Housing, in Caseville. They paint, talk, enjoy each other’s company, and talk about what they’re going to do when warmer weather gets here.
“We plan to put our head’s together and come up with a calendar of places to meet,” Bennett said. “We were pretty willy-nilly this year.” Their hope is to expand the group.
“We invite all artists, all media,” Bennett said. “Basically, come out and hang out with us and enjoy nature. For me, being able to paint outside gives me that nature fix. It teaches you how to see, and to observe.”
Experience in the arts, or level of competence, is not an issue to join the group.
“Even if you come out and just do stick figures, that’s OK,” Bennett said. “You have to start somewhere. Even crayons, if you want to. The comradery is fabulous. There’s no judgement, only encouragement.”
There is no cost involved to be part the Thumb Area Plein-Aire Painters. Just bring your own supplies.
“We’d like to encourage everyone to come out, even if you just want to go for a walk and see what we’re doing,” Bennett said. “We probably won’t serve coffee and doughnuts, but you’re welcome to come and look over our shoulders.”
The group’s work can be seen on the walls at Scheurer Hospital . . . they have a display up until March 1st. They also have a Facebook page called ‘TAPP, Thumb Area Plein-Aire Painters.’ People are encouraged to follow the page and contact the group, if interested. The Facebook page also carries information on where and when the group will meet.
Painting outdoors is a unique experience. Finding the perfect location and subject is an expression of individualism, how nature touches the soul. Just ask Patt Bennett. Art and nature have been touching her soul since childhood.