The Clarkston Conservatory of Music — it’s title gives away it’s main purpose.
But to director and owner Dr. James Wilhelmsen, it’s really a venue to showcase all forms of talent within the realm of the arts.
And so, Wilhelmsen is now seeking bids from local artists interested in displaying their work at the conservatory.
It’s really a “decorating thing,” Wilhelmsen said. He wanted quality artwork to hang on the walls, so he feels the new venture is of a mutual benefit to the conservatory and the artists.
Each month, and rotating thereafter, one artist can display their repertoire, which will be available for sale.
“We’re not turning into a gallery, but we want to showcase local artists,” Wilhelmsen said. “We want quality art on the walls. We don’t want to showcase just anything.”
Holly resident Marionette Kubicz is the first on board. In fact, she actually inspired the idea of displaying art at the conservatory.
She, along with Wilhelmsen and conservatory teacher Miriam Moore and their spouses, were having a dinner at the Clarkston Union one evening where she happened to mention in conversation her new line of art.
“He (Wilhelmsen) said, ‘Oh, let’s start a rotating art show.’ So, I got excited about that,” Kubicz admits.
Kubicz is a multi-media artist; meaning she sings, plays guitar, draws, sculpts among other talents. What she has on display at the conservatory are called Lifeforms, which is the same name of her Holly art studio.
Lifeforms are “soft sculptures,” somewhat like poseable dolls, but Kubicz clarifies, “they’re not dolls.” Each Lifeform is made out of a wire frame and covered in all sorts of vivid fabrics, hair, and jewelry. The artist-signed pieces each have a theme such as “Travail,” a pregnant Lifeform.
“If you’ve never seen Lifeforms, you’ve never seen anything like it,” Kubicz said.
They come in three varieties: Juniors, a hanging ornamental version; Storytellers, the largest Lifeform, accompanied by a verse of some sort Kubicz wrote; and the medium-sized Earthforms.
“I love what these do,” Kubicz admits. “They incorporate color and texture. They’re expressive. They’re so friendly. People want to touch these.”
Kubicz is excited about the chance to display at the conservatory.
“I think this is a wonderful opportunity. Just to be here, to be involved with this place in any way is wonderful. This is a place that needs to stay alive and thrive.”
She feels the conservatory and art go hand-in-hand.
“I don’t separate music and art. It seems like a very natural thing to do, and a very natural setting. This is a wonderful pairing.”
Conservatory volunteer Ann Irwin said, “It’s nothing new for the conservatory to support visual arts.” Specifically, she said Michigan artist Bim Willow sculpted the tree branch fence in front of the building, and Clarkston resident Sally Kubani did a rendering of the conservatory featured on notecards for sale at the venue.
“I’ve found in the culture that we live in, that mainstream culture seems to have lost the appreciation of the arts like I would like to see,” Kubicz said. “Any time someone says, ‘Come here and look at this art,’ or ‘Here, listen to us play,’ we need to support that.”
Wilhelmsen said the conservatory will also offer auditions and scholarships to the artists. Funding is currently being sought from local businesses and individuals.
Local artists interested in displaying their work are encouraged to stop by the conservatory at 49 Main St. in downtown Clarkston, or call (248) 625-3640.
For more information on Kubicz, who also offers entertainment for children’s parties, churches, schools and other organizations, call (248) 634-2011.