Ferndale Jingle & Mingle Showcases Artists and Community Spirit
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 24, 2024)
Ferndale, MI – While Downtown Ferndale is known for it’s artsy spirit, there are days where even more art fills the city thanks to special events like last weekend’s Jingle & Mingle Underground Holiday Market. The art fair took place in the lower level of the dot parking deck. Artist booths set in parking spaces gave shoppers a variety of creations to peruse, and there was even an area for kids to make art of their own.
There were 90 vendors in the market, most of whom were selling art or food.
Among them was Inez Brown of Detroit whose large charcoal sketches of people are adorned with gold leaf, gesso, and acrylic painted backgrounds were popular at the event. Brown told Oakland County Times she’s loved drawing throughout her life, and has been making art full time since retiring from the GM Design Center. “I see a person or an image that I like and I’m compelled to draw it and make it my own,” she said.
“I’m fascinated with the urban experience, and capturing the legacy on canvas. I paint a lot of kids, and strong women of color,” she said.
Nicole Cass of Ferndale was also among the artists at the Jingle & Mingle, showcasing her skills of mosaic and picassette in works made from the broken pieces of history. “I love traditional Roman mosaic,” Cass said. “I started with broken china, but then I started adding chatskis and it just grew from there.”
Pointing out little details, like the faces of Hummel and Precious Moments figurines or patterns of vintage dishes that are recognizable amongst the variety of textures and colors in her work, Cass said that “People worked so hard to get these things – these figurines, these plates that went on display to collect dust – and now they just get discarded.” She likes being able to give them new life, mixing the things we may remember from visiting loved one’s homes in the past, with a modern twist.
“If you make art, you have to put it out there and not be afraid,” Cass said. “You never know how it will impact others. You’ll change somebody’s day.”
Also working to turn the old into the new is seamstress Amy Wipp of Ferndale. When she was laid off from an auto company two years ago, she needed something to do, and a way to make some money. She remembered a collection of old cashmere sweaters that she’d had packed away and decided to give them some creative upgrades before putting them out in the world.
“I’ve always liked making costumes, so I just went to town on these sweaters. People liked them so I went to thrift stores to find more, so I could have sweaters in all sizes, and now we have all this,” Wipp said.
“It’s gone better than I could have imagined,” she said.
Ernest Carl Fackler of Southfield is an artist specializing in woodcuts, who is also an elementary school art teacher. “I love talking about art with kids and hearing what they see. Kids opinions are unfiltered,” he said.
Frackler creates the image by caring it out of wood, a process that can take from a few days up to a few weeks depending on how intricate it is. Then he goes to work making high quality prints in different colors. Much of his inspiration comes from mythology and nature.
Fran Olegario of Hazel Park loves to draw animals and food. But for the past year she’s found success drawing portraits of people at art fairs and other events. Those willing to wait for about ten minutes and pay a small fee can see themselves through the eyes of the artist.
“It’s mostly been trial and error,” Olegario told Oakland County Times. “I went to art school and I learned some business in college but I learn from talking with other artists.”
Events like Jingle & Mingle do just that, providing artists an opportunity not only to sell their work, but to meet others who are trying to make a go of a difficult profession. They give the public a chance to enjoy a space full of creativity, and to talk about the art around them. And this event also had a good cause – collecting money and food items for FernCare Free Clinic and Renaissance Vineyard’s Food Pantry.
Learn more about art and events in Downtown Ferndale at https://downtownferndale.com/. Keep up with community events on the Oakland County Times Event Page. And sign up for Daily Headlines.
