creative industries

Capturing 200 years of history is a daunting task, but the Ann Arbor District Library’s archive manager, Andrew MacLaren, is up to the challenge. He is leading the Ann Arbor 200 project—200 digital releases throughout the bicentennial year that explore Ann Arbor's history from a 2024 point of view. Listen in to hear all about it when Andrew joins Deb Polich on this edition of WEMU’s "creative:impact."

Kelly Parkinson quickly fell in love with the creativity, craft and skill in the printing business. What was supposed to be a part-time college job turned into a 30-year career at Allegra- Marketing - Print - Mail in Saline. Meet Kelly and hear about the ever-changing print business when she joins host Deb Polich on this edition of WEMU’s "creative:impact."

Merrill Guerra is a serial entrepreneur. With a background in music, an MBA and real estate broker’s license, she has led and launched a number of ventures. Her latest, Dragonfly and Birch, features Michigan artists & craftspeople in Manchester’s historic Black Sheep Tavern. Meet Merrill and find out what she’s up to when she joins Deb Polich on this edition of WEMU’s "creative:impact."

Local and renowned artist, ceramist and professor Susanne Stephens’ career spans seven decades. In this second of a two-part series, we meet Patti Smith, who is on the team helping Susanne archive and catalog her works. What’s Patti’s interest and what is the job of a collection’s manager? We find out when Patti joins Deb Polich on this edition of "creative:impact."

Local and renowned artist, ceramist and professor Susanne Stephenson's career spans seven decades. Now working with a team to archive and catalog her works, Susanne is sifting through a lifetime of memories. It’s a lot! So much that we are doing a two-part series on Susanne’s career and the documenting of this prolific artist’s lifetime of work. Susanne joins host Deb Polich on this edition of "creative:impact."

Underground and not listed on concert calendars, Johnny’s Speakeasy has hosted bands in a little venue down the road since the late 1990’s. That is, until last year, when a fire destroyed both the venue and Johnny Williams’ home. Hear how and why local musicians have launched a campaign to "Save Johnny’s Speakeasy" when Johnny joins host Deb Polich on this edition of 89.1 WEMU’s "creative:impact."

What do Reba McEntire, Niall Horan, John Legend and Gwen Stefani have in common with Ann Arborite Angelina Nazarian? They appeared together on the 24th season of The Voice. Hear about Angelina’s experience as a contestant and being on Team Reba when she joins host Deb Polich on the next edition of WEMU’s "creative:impact."

For thousands of years, people have used the arts for self-expression, healing and communication. It wasn’t until the 1940s, though, that the medical profession began to embrace art therapy. Dr. Mary Spence is a clinical psychologist who uses art and creativity for people of all ages in her practice. We find out why when Mary joins host Deb Polich on the next edition of 89.1 WEMU’s "creative:impact".

Earl Lewis is a problem solver. He is also a scholar, an historian, an administrator and a National Medal for the Humanities recipient. As the founder of the University of Michigan Center for Social Solutions, he wants to find answers to questions of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. Dr. Lewis joins host Deb Polich on this edition of creative:impact. Tune in to be inspired!

November 1st was declared All Hallows Day to honor Catholic saints as an antidote to a pagan festival – the origin of Halloween - where people wearing costumes would light bonfires to ward off ghosts. All Hallows Day remains an important holiday for many cultures. Chadewick Harris, inspired by the art of flow, started "Ypsilanti’s All Hallows Illumination of Frog Island" to mark the day. Chadewick joins Deb Polich on this edition of creative:impact. Join us to learn about flow and get the details about this lit Ypsilanti event.