By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
Art is an expression of one’s ability to create a physical version of an idea.
Whether in paint or pastel, those ideas come from all sorts of motivations deep within a person’s emotion and imagination.
At a young age Jerry Brazeau channeled his frustrations through a paint brush as a way of dealing with diabetes.
Those frustrations paired with brush strokes evolved from a simple means of blowing off steam to a pursuit of higher education and teaching.
Inspired by the creative abilities of his older brother who’s nine years his senior, Brazeau worked tirelessly to craft his expressive and, at times, abstract niche.
‘I worked pretty hard at developing my style and I just found something that works for me,? he said.
His affinity for the arts and a recognition that he enjoyed working with kids led him from his home in Escanaba to Michigan State University.
There he studied art education and obtained a masters degree in Curriculum and Teaching. Shortly after graduating in 2000, Brazeau accepted a teaching position at Scripps Middle School.
Brazeau has been involved with the Orion Art Center since he started with Scripps and has produced and displayed his own art work and his students? art work in their galleries.
Over the next 15 years, his work at Scripps and around the community would earn him the title of Artist of the Year.
‘It kind of caught me by surprise,? Brazeau said. ‘Being a shy guy I was pretty humble in the beginning but now as it’s sunk in, I’ve begun to own it.?
His creations have varied from works that incorporate syringes representing his fight with diabetes to a colorful city painting where he’s hidden personal messages throughout the cityscape. He uses the city painting as a creative rule breaker when teaching his students the basics.
‘Things are bending and distorting so we’re able to play with the vanishing lines,? He said. ‘The students really like it especially when you look at the lines of an actual city.?
Brazeau draws on his personal struggles with developing his talent and applies it to