There is art and there is commerce and often that relationship can make for strange bedfellows. But in reality, the two can ultimately work in harmony and thrive, with the right conditions and pairing of like-minded visionaries.
Enter long-time Ann Arbor-rite and born and bred Dearborn resident Cheryl Dawdy and her business partner and significant other Jim Moran.
Dawdy is a visual artist and singer-songwriter that, for the last 20 years or so, has specialized in what she calls “Reconstructed Landscapes”—taking paper, postcards, paints and blending various textures and recycled materials into something visually interesting and new. She is also a vocalist in the nationally-recognized and Ann Arbor-based musical trio The Chenille Sisters. Moran managed and was the founder and driving force behind Detroit’s Attic Theater, Pontiac’s Strand Theater, Ann Arbor’s Performance Network and active in many other Michigan-based theatrical ventures.
Both Dawdy and Moran bring their considerable artistic and administrative acumen to the art world and are all about bringing artists together on several different fronts. “When I started the Attic Theater in 1976 we always used the lobby for an artists’ gallery space,” explains Moran on the origin of their artistic pursuits. “And every time the Attic moved somewhere galleries sprouted up around it. So, I’ve always had connections with galleries. I particularly had an interest in pop-up galleries. I got the idea about 10-15 years ago when I saw what was going on in Grand Rapids, with their use of abandoned city spaces. So, we always had the idea to bring pop-up galleries to Ann Arbor.”
During the latter part of 2021 into 2022 the couple did just that, opening a gallery, first in what was the former Peaceable Kingdom gifts and curios shop and, eventually, moving to their current location at 407 E. Liberty in downtown Ann Arbor as Makeshift Gallery.
“The property owners Hillside Investments had a soft spot for us regarding rent,” says Moran. “We’ve never had a long-range plan. We have a monthly lease that they were very nice to give us because they like us here. The owners have been very gracious to us. We’ve had good months and bad months, but the building owners know we’re serving a definite purpose. They’ve told us the reason they’ve kept us here is because they’ve gotten a lot of compliments, and it makes them look good as supporters of the community and the arts.”
Patterned after the classic Parisian salons frequented by authors like Fitzgerald and Hemingway, artists like Picasso and Matisse and musicians like Django Reinhardt, Moran and Dawdy wanted to create a place where artists could gather, sell and display their wares, perform, give demonstrations of their artistic process and share ideas. With nearly 30 artists currently active in the gallery, they’ve attracted some of the cream of Michigan and national renown like Dick Siegel, Jack Kenny, Carlye Crisler and John Lloyd, to name a few.
“For a while on Thursdays from 4-6pm we’d have various artists doing demonstrations and talking about what they do,” says Dawdy. “Unfortunately, not much of the general public came in, but the other artists would come in and ask interesting questions about each other’s work. It showed a real appreciation for other art forms that may be different from theirs.”
The Makeshift Gallery has also sponsored Sunday music performances from 12-2pm where they serve coffee, tea, croissants and muffins and admission is free. Some of the musicians who have played here have been visual artists as well like Dawdy’s trio The Chenille Sisters, singer-songwriter Dick Siegel, author and playwright Jay Stielstra and Michael Smith.
The annual Ann Arbor Art Fair will be in full swing this Thursday July 20th through Saturday July 22nd. With their location strategically placed downtown on Liberty Street, Makeshift Gallery plans on being open each day for the duration of the Fair from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The gallery features everything from large oil paintings and colored pencil drawings to cigar box guitars, photographs and original jewelry. One of the artists who features her unique jewelry at the gallery is Carolyn Tjon-Burnstein. Like a number of the artists with work on display, she is also a musician. She was active as a singer and vocal coach until the pandemic inspired her to pivot toward another creative avenue. “I had been dabbling in art and making jewelry since the early 2000s,” says Tjon-Burnstein. “I love looking for beach glass, stones, going to garage sales and finding stuff to use in my jewelry. When Covid hit I stopped teaching and performing and started making stuff. I’ve been doing jewelry just for fun, but now I’m thinking of selling things too.”
Dawdy, who has exhibited her artwork in national shows and recently had a piece from her “Reconstructed Landscapes” collection accepted by the National Association of Women Artists, handles the daily management of the gallery and deals one on one with artists that are featured there.
“Almost every artist represented here didn’t have an outlet to sell or display their work,” says Dawdy. “A few did, but they were doing an occasional art show or doing art in their basement or garage. In addition to everything else, we try to give budding artists that are looking for guidance a place to show their work. And that’s thrilling!”
For more information on Makeshift Gallery visit them on Facebook or just stop in Wednesday-Sunday Noon – 7 p.m.
