The windows of the South Haven Center for the Arts are full of mittens! Art mittens that is—to help warm the soul during what has turned into a cold, yet beautiful Michigan winter season.
Keeping busy and warm in her studio in South Haven, member artist Joan Bonnette was inspired to create several sets of art mittens, which evolved into the idea of hanging the mittens in the windows of the art center for the enjoyment of the community, and to inspire creativity within the community.
Anyone can make a set of mittens (or just one if you like) to take part in the fun. Mittens made from all kinds of materials made their debut on February 1, and the art center invites and encourages the community to create their own unique pair to be part of the display. Mitten-makers can use any materials they like—scraps from magazines or cloth, markers, colored pencils, crayons, paints, pastels, colored paper—anything at hand. (We do ask that mitten-makers avoid glitter.) Three dimensional mittens are also encouraged. Please sign your mittens and make sure they’re easy to hang.
It’s easy to get your mittens to the art center. Mitten-makers can drop their creations at Crescent Moon, 317 Broadway, during open hours: Monday 11–5, Thursday 11–8, Friday and Saturday 11–6, Sunday 12–5, or slide them through the mail slot next door at Rock 'n' Road Cycle, 315 Broadway. Please sign your mittens and put them in an envelope or Ziploc bag marked for the South Haven Center for the Arts, and don’t forget to sign them. You can also mail your mittens to the art center at 600 Phoenix St., South Haven, MI 49090, or email info@southhavenarts.org to make arrangements to drop your mittens at the art center.
With the help of local artists, the South Haven Youth Development Corporation, the court of Little Miss & Mr. Blueberry, St. Basil Catholic School, and the community at large, this will be the art center’s third window display project. The first display featured Ojo de Dios (gods-eyes) to honor Mexican art and culture during the 2020 Frida Kahlo summer celebration, followed by a rotating window display featuring objects Frida may have chosen to decorate her Mexico City home. And YDC and other community partners helped create the 2020 holiday art display.
Please contact the art center at info@southhavenarts.org with questions, and visit southhavenarts.org, Facebook, and Twitter for information and to see more art mittens. The art center would love to see your designs and make them part of the display for all to enjoy.
The Winter Mitten Project is funded by a Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs (MCACA) operational support grant, and sponsored by the Paul Hix Office of Edward Jones.
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