We the Village Artisans, believing in the power of art to ennoble and enrich the lives of all people, determine to encourage and support the arts in whatever way we can in the community of Garden, MI, and in the region of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The Village Artisans started with a group of women gathering together to work on art and craft projects and evolved into Village Artisans, Inc, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 1983 in Garden, Michigan.
The Village Artisans brings together community artists and art enthusiasts. Throughout its history, the organization has sponsored art classes, workshops, music and drama productions, lectures, demonstrations, and adult enrichment programs. To enable these programs for our community's children and adults and finance upkeep of The Village Artisan’s building, we hold several fundraisers each year, including a quilt raffle, a salad luncheon, tours of local places of interest, and a holiday silent auction.
The Village Artisans is located on highway M183 between Escanaba and Manistique, eight miles south of Garden Corners on Hwy US 2.
Tax deductible contributions can be sent to the Village Artisans, Inc., P.O. Box 81, Garden, MI 49835.
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Web Manager & Board Member
Gallery Manager
Lael (Rasmussen) Thelander, the present Gallery Manager, grew up in Garden, attending grade school, graduating from Big Bay de Noc High School and from Suomi College. Working with fabrics has always been a part of Lael's life from the day her Mother taught her to sew and her Grandmother taught her to knit and crochet. She was a 4-H member through school and taught 4-H when her kids were members. She has done alterations, custom sewing, quilting, and freelance sewing for American Girl as well as knitting and crocheting items to donate to organizations. For the present, you will find her sewing or working with stained glass. She has been a consignor with the Garden Gallery since they opened their doors and has also been Manager of the Gallery since 2008.
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The Village Artisans has been an important part of Ginny’s life since she co-founded the organization with Margo House in 1983. Ginny served as Treasurer of the Garden Gallery until 2002 and the Village Artisans until 2009. Ginny states that it has been an amazing experience to see both organizations grow and be such a positive influence on the Garden Peninsula. Ginny and her husband, Doug, have lived on the Garden Peninsula since 1974. They have two married children and 4 grandchildren. Ginny taught German at Manistique High School and retired in 1999. Now she enjoys traveling in the winter and gardening in the summer.
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Pat Rasmussen graduated from Cooks High School in 1949 and attended Englewood School of Nursing in Chicago, IL for one year. She married in 1952 and discontinued her education to raise a family. When all the children were all in school, she started college and received a bachelors degree in education in 1973 and before she retired she earned a masters degree in education. Pat is interested in promoting the arts in many different forms and enjoys promoting the uniqueness of this wonderful Garden Peninsula. She enjoys quilting and other forms of needlework. She likes to travel and has traveled to most of the states in the United States and traveled to Europe twice. Raising a family has been her longest held and most rewarding job. She says "I believe that the results are shown in my five children, 14 grandchildren and 10 great grand children. She also taught elementary school for 20 years. She is on the board of the Artisans and the Historical Society. She also belongs to MARSP, Kates Bay Home Ec and is a member of the Garden Congregational Church.