Goodrich – A local artist is completing what may become a landmark in the City of Flint.
Guy Adamec, 53, of Goodrich suggested designing a sign for the Farmer’s Market in Flint when the city’s Ruth Mott Foundation sought a city beautification project to fund this year.
‘Because (the market) represents such a cross-section of the community,? said Adamec.
The three-section sign, which market owner Dick Ramsdell wanted 5 feet tall and 8 feet wide, will be made of brick, capped with a limestone ledge, featuring glass mosaic inserts.
Streetside, the mosaic spells out the market name. On the reverse will be a mural depicting a barn, a crowing rooster, and a vintage truck following a winding road through a field of pumpkins to the city’s skyline.
And within the mural’s mosaic pieces will be hidden pictures.
‘I want to produce something the Ruth Mott Foundation is proud to sponsor,? said Adamec. ‘It should be something the public wants to go to see.?
Adamec has been a potter about 35 years, since his graduate school days at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills.
He also teaches at the Flint Institute of Arts, learning from his students? questions.
Recently, the FIA has been undergoing a $12.6 million project, for which he’s put in many hands-on construction hours in preparation for its Sept. 24 grand opening.
In order to avoid the starving-artist syndrome, he became a licensed builder, even designing and building his family’s passive-solar home with his wife, Angie.
While he enjoys creating purely artistic pieces sold through galleries, functional pieces such as pottery bowls and designing handmade pieces for races, clubs, festivals, and special events have helped pay the bills as his reputation grew.
‘For many years, Angie worked at the post office. As an artist, I didn’t necessarily have benefits and Angie carried them, although I had a steady income.?
‘In some ways I feel I’m just hitting my full stride now,? he says.
Adamec credits his family’s support for being able to make a living with his art.
Adamec is something of a farmer, too, having learned from Jeanette and the late Doug Pierson of Goodrich, his neighbors when he first moved into an old farmhouse.
‘Doug and Jeanette were like parents,? he said. ‘That’s one of the reasons I stayed in Goodrich, the wonderful people.?
The Farmer’s Market sign is the third mosaic project he’s done. In the last two years, the Ruth Mott Foundation approached him to build two of four benches for Applewood on the Mott Estate and Grace Emmanual Church.
Applewood’s mosaic bench features story circles, inspired by the Sloan Museum’s ‘Views from the Porch? event in which area residents shared stories of joy and celebration.
Listening to the storytellers, Adamec gleaned universal themes from stories about bush women, parades, family gatherings, birthday parties, stories of slaves in the south, the Berlin Wall coming down, growing gardens, farming, bonfires, and family.
Iridescent glass’which changes color as it’s viewed’was used in the skin tones of the people represented on the story circles bench, representing all races.
The church bench features an egret soaring above water, with a Bible verse visible from beneath the waves.
Recently, Adamec completed another enjoyable project: a crib for his granddaughter Hannah, born in June.
‘That stuff is just fun,? he said. ‘It’s made out of trees her great-grandpa milled, red oak and white ash.?
Adamec values family, and being self-sufficient.
Contentment in life now comes from ‘watching grandchildren grow, and being able to teach my skills,? he says.
‘You start out in life setting goals for yourself: have a family, build a home, function as an artist, getting to do things you like to do.
‘I guess I feel privileged.?