Onekama wall of art ‘going to the dogs’

2020 Community Art Wall project in Onekama. Photo by Mark Videan.

ONEKAMA – Organizers of last year’s award-winning Community Art Wall are asking residents to dig into their art supplies again this winter. Their goal is to decorate the east wall of the former Verne’s Emporium building at 4850 Main Street with dog-related works for a May art show. 

The wall of art, created using repurposed items, overlooks the community garden next to Yellow Dog Café and last year received a Beautification Award from the Portage Lake Garden Club.

In a press release, organizers stated:  “Our community loves dogs, we do fundraisers for Homeward Bound (Animal Shelter), and our café is called Yellow Dog … duh. Let’s redo the wall with a dog theme!”

Pandemic-inspired project

At the start of the pandemic in 2020, Yellow Dog Café and Patina launched their quarantined Community Art Wall project. The owners of both businesses encouraged residents to use “found” materials around their homes or help themselves to items placed outside of Patina. 

“Art therapy helped many of us during those difficult times and made for a fun winter activity,” said co-organizer and Patina co-owner Nikki Schneider. “We were delighted to see the response and the creations.” 

She explained the wall became a conversation piece and a popular spot to take “selfies.” Residents and visitors were encouraged to submit artwork throughout the summer.

This year’s theme for the wall was inspired by local resident Diane Wemlinger, who brought a dog-mural idea back from her winter trip to  Florida. As organizers began scouting locations to launch the new project, Schneider noticed the artwork on the current wall was “looking weathered.”  That prompted her to suggest they refresh the wall with the dog-inspired artwork.

How to participate

To enter the show, community members are asked to repurpose an item to use as a canvas, such as a cupboard door, screen or old board. Alternatively, residents may look for materials in the box on Patina’s porch after January 25. On this canvas, participants are asked to create a dog-related work, such as a dog, dog bone, paw print, fire hydrant or tree and apply several coats of outdoor polyurethane to protect it.

Works will be collected in April for the May show and a fundraising reception will be held in June. For more information, contact Nikki Schneider, of Patina, at (312) 909-0115.