Dexter Arts Advocates Hitting Stride

Two years into its existence, the Village of Dexter's Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee is getting ready to shape the aesthetic landscape of the village.

That includes lending creative assistance to LaFontaine Chevrolet's $7 million expansion and exploring possible public signage for places the village deems historically significant.

Paul Cousins, a committee member and village council trustee, said it was difficult getting the committee's projects started, but a $5,000 allocation from the village last year is allowing the group to focus on beautifying the community.

“People that have art in their communities find that it’s not just important for the soul and the mind, they find it’s an economic driver,” Cousins said. “People want to live in a community that has art. It’s not just sprinkles on top of the cake. It’s something that’s a basic portion of a strong community.”

One supporter is Matt LaFontaine, general manager of the dealership, who has already committed $5,000 for public art at the site while the committee has shown several pieces to the village council that could serve as templates from communities such as Ann Arbor, Brighton and Chelsea.

Cousins said he would like a decision to be made on what to build at LaFontaine in three to six months. No public funding is expected for the project, though other donors for the project could step forward.

“We’re going to explore what we have here very soon with the committee and then people should know what to expect from us,” LaFontaine said.

Cousins noted the importance of making a distinction between public and private art. If a piece isn’t endorsed by the village council, it can’t be protected legally by the village.

“The only real piece of public art we have now is the Civil War statue, and that’s sort of a generic thing they have in places all over the country," Cousins said.

Additional Progress

The committee also is making headway in other areas. For example, once the amphitheatre at Mill Creek Park is completed, the committee may be involved in recruiting musical artists to perform.

“I know a lot of people in local bands that can’t wait to get out there,” Cousins said. “It would be a great way to bring people into the village."

The committee already hosts one event every spring and fall called Songs, Slams & Smores, which includes a night around the campfire with music, poetry and gooey treats. The event will be held this year on May 21 at Community Park.

All the efforts are gaining some praise for Dexter from groups like the Arts Alliance, an organization that supports the promotion of arts and culture all over Washtenaw County. The group works with the committee on monthly networking events.

“There’s a lot of (arts) excitement in Dexter right now, from and the Side Door Gallery to the ,” Arts Alliance president Susan Froelich said. “We’re looking forward to getting artists out there to connect.”

Cousins said a renewed focus on art in the county has helped get the committee’s vision off the ground.

“It’s hard to come up with money for art,” he said. “Unless you get a donation from a philanthropist, it can be very difficult. But just like other towns around here, we hope to lay it out to our council that this important.”