A crowd filled Ink & Dye in downtown Milan on March 14 for the opening of We the People, a resistance-themed art exhibit featuring work by local and regional artists. The exhibit will remain on display through April 11.
The show includes work from 68 artists, with visitors studying paintings, mixed-media pieces and sculpture exploring themes of community, identity and civic engagement. The exhibit also included handmade prints, jewelry and clothing available for purchase.
The exhibit was curated and organized by Milan artist Mady Chen of Apple & Thistle Press, who approached Ink & Dye owner Ashley St. Clair about hosting the show.
“I’ve been wanting to use our space at Ink & Dye for more community-centered things for a while now,” St. Clair said. “When Mady of Apple & Thistle Press approached me with the idea for an art show, it just felt right. We redid the room in the back and got everything set up so artists could display their work and the community could come together through art.”
Proceeds from the event supported the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights. Organizers said the event raised more than $5,000, which will be split between the two organizations.
The opening drew a steady flow of visitors throughout the afternoon, with artists, families and community members gathering to view the work and talk about the ideas behind it.
St. Clair said she hopes the exhibit will be the first of many art shows and community events hosted in the space.
Featured image: Ashley St. Clair, owner of Ink & Dye, left, and Milan artist Mady Chen of Apple & Thistle Press stand outside Ink & Dye in downtown Milan. Photo courtesy of Ink & Dye.
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